Officer Firing what does it take for an officer to get fired? serious question?
32 hours work without pay for unwanted sexual touching, smoking MJ, being in the presence of somone smoking MJ and endangering an animal by holding a knife up to its neck..... seriously!? what does it take for an officer to get fired?
Gross misconduct. A pattern of behavior that violates departmental policies. Failure to be able to do the job satisfactorily. Criminal convictions.
In other words, the same things that would get you fired from your job at McDonald's.
Should a police officer be fired if they tell someone to turn off a camcorder?
I think it isnt something minor, its an attack on the civil liberties of a person. Plus a cop would probably just say it to make his ego feel better. I think its a violation of our rights as citizens of the US, and as a violator the cop should loose his job.
I've been out shooting police situations for over 20 years and I've seldom been confronted with this situation. When I have run into it, it has usually been private citizens or small town cops who don't know any better. When that has happened and I've identified myself as a member of the media, it can be amazing how they can go from in my face to can't get away from me fast enough when I start asking the questions. In the United States there are no laws that prevent you from taking video of the police, or police situations. With that said, there are times when this could be a problem. If you were just a third party at a scene and had nothing to do with what was happening you would be fine. However if you were a party to nature of the call then you could be asked to put the camera down. For example you were a driver or passenger in a traffic stop. The camera could be construed as a weapon and the officer would likely make you turn it off and put it down. I suspect this is the kind of situation that you have seen in the past. If you are out in public and you see police activity you have every right to videotape or photograph it. This is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Laws to prevent audio taping without consent would be not apply as long as you were clearly visible and were not going to any secret or extreme means to get sound. I've heard of charges filed against videographers based on these laws but I've yet to actually see one of these cases get to court much less a conviction. Most photographers that are arrested in these scenarios are usually being stupid and crossing police lines or willfully harassing the police. If you are out of the way most police officers could not care less and some are even glad to have you. When police are in public they have no right of privacy just like everyone else and they also have the right to remain silent should a camera be rolling. I've seldom run into this problem other than requests not to show officers faces who might be working undercover and not shooting dead bodies. I don't shoot bodies anyway, and I always try to comply on the face requests although I'm under no obligation to do so. If you are a third party to an incident and are confronted with this situation you best bet is to not cut off the camera and move your finger away from the trigger so you don't accidentally cut it off. Should you be arrested the tape would be your best evidence.
Good luck, it can be a lot of fun and I've made a lot of police/fire friends doing it.
