NYPD Put Couple On 'Wanted' Poster For Videotaping Police

from the overreact-much? dept

Mon, Jul 9th 2012 2:11pm — Mike Masnick

We've had plenty of stories lately about police overreacting to people filming them -- and multiple courts have ruled that filming the police is perfectly legal. Even the Justice Department has spoken out and warned police departments that they need to let the public photograph and video tape them if they want.

And yet, we keep hearing of new incidents of police going after people for filming them. Slashdot now points us to a story that takes that to a different level. It involves the NY Police Department creating a "wanted" poster for a couple who have been regularly filming them and posting the videos to a YouTube channel. While the poster did not technically say "wanted" it sure looked like a Wanted poster, and the couple worried that anyone who saw it would think they were sought for arrest. The poster did describe them as "professional agitators."

After calling police about the posters, they were told that they had been taken down, but the police still have not explained why they created them in the first place.

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Filed Under: nypd, police, wanted poster

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Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:18pm

Professional Agitators sounds right to me. Kind of like Pirate Mike. Make a living off of desperately following others, trying to find anything wrong (or that can be spun as wrong) to harp on. Meanwhile, they themselves are cowards and unable to face criticism. The irony.
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- el_segfaulto (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:24pm
  
  Re:
  How do those jackboots taste? When you get down there to lick them, do you use Tabasco sauce or do you prefer the all natural flavor?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- A Non-Mouse, 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:33pm
  
  Re:
  "Make a living off of desperately following others, trying to find anything wrong (or that can be spun as wrong) to harp on. Meanwhile, they themselves are cowards and unable to face criticism."
  
  I lost track of which side you were describing. Irony indeed!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Too Funny!, 10 Jul 2012 @ 12:15pm
    
    Re: Re:
    LOL! You're right, that dumb AC described themselves precisely. I'm going to be chuckling at that for the next week at least. Good job! :-)
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Arthur (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:01pm
  
  Hypocracy
  How about extreme hypocracy: This "Anonymous Coward" accusing people (who are not anonymous) of being "cowards".
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:12pm
  
  Re:
  Hahahaha
  This is one of the most obvious I have ever seen. Projecting self to others is the name of the game and you have just hit the motherload! :)
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward of Esteemed Trolling (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:16pm
  
  White Knighting - twice in one day - I'm tired
  We already have The Pirate Party, MEP's and local political officials. But We still need a president...
  Pirate Mike for president - 2012 ?
  Sounds like a good choice.
  
  What's it feel like to be on the wrong side of history, where pirates are proud and anti-pirates are shameful scum that hate culture ?
  I probably "spun it wrong"
  Spin it right and the Anti-pirates are proud, kind people.
  cough...cough...not sneaky...cough...greedy bastards at all...cough...bullshit
  
  iNB4 :
  You might have better luck white knighiing if you had some armour. Or even just didn't do it naked
  Proof I am not naked, taken from my webcam.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 5:37pm
  
  Re:
  Are you trolling or to you actually think you have a legitimate point
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 7:04pm
  
  Re:
  Wow. Your unremitting truthiness has swayed me to your point of view. Even though your posts are filled with unsubstantiated accusations and drip with vitriol that would be better directed inward, you are definitely a force for justice and the American Way. Do you have a newsletter I can sign up for?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- TtfnJohn (profile), 10 Jul 2012 @ 3:31pm
  
  Re:
  Oh, you mean kinda like you're doing now hiding behind anonymity while calling others cowards. The irony and they hypocrisy.
  Ahhh, the desperation.
  
  Nice to meet you and the NYPD.
  
  Too bad you don't have the backbone Mike has or 1/90th the courage of the average beat cop.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- S L, 5 Aug 2012 @ 9:18pm
  
  Re: response to Anonymous Coward
  You sound exactly like the kind of pig that want's it's outrageous illegal behavior taped so that you can continue to illegally harass and abuse people and get away with it.
  
  Only bully pigs are afraid of cameras recording their illegal behavior.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Derek (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:23pm

So says an AC? Hypocrite much?
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DH's Love Child (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:24pm

You know what else is a professional agitator?
Commercial grade washing machines. Will they be putting up wanted posters of laundromats next? Sheesh!

You would think that NYPD would have enough other work to do without trying to create more...
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- Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:42pm
  
  Re: You know what else is a professional agitator?
  All commercial grade washing machines are required by law to be front loaders, and thus do not contain agitators like top loaders do.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Larry, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:16pm
    
    Re: Re: You know what else is a professional agitator?
    Top loader at home, no agitator. DO NOT CALL THE NYPD on me.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Travis, 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:40pm

Professionally agitated?
Every cop the world over should be acting as if their every action is under public scrutiny. They're servants of the public. Unfortunately, so often, the police has been compared to a legalized mafia. And is it any wonder many of us think of them as such?
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- Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:12pm
  
  Re: Professionally agitated?
  After all of the crappy attention police depts have received on this topic, it's obvious they are not going to stop. I wish someone with deep pockets would sue and just get this crap over with.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - rallen, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:31pm
    
    Re: Re: Professionally agitated?
    I hate to say it, but the only things I've ever seen that affected police behavior, was having a seriously powerful state/federal authority breathing down their necks, ready to send them to "poke in the ass prison", or really bad people with guns planting them in the ground. That's it.
    
    Law suites sometimes affect the politician leadership, but not always. It puts money in the pockets of the lawyers, who were or will be politicians themselves. They almost never actually affect the day-to-day operations of police officers. Any cop is quick to point out that the law that gets practiced in a courtroom usually has little relation to the law on the street. You can actually take that as gospel.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2012 @ 2:11pm
    
    Re: Re: Professionally agitated?
    That would not matter.. They keep doing this and they keep getting sued. Why don't they care? Simple they're paying the lawsuits with TAX PAYERS MONEY.
    
    They don't get in trouble..
    They don't get fired..
    
    Without some actual consequences that directly effects them this will never stop.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2012 @ 2:36am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Professionally agitated?
      I think I have a solution.
      We need a bill that enacts new laws. We will call it the Civil Observation of Police Abuse or COPA for short.
      
      The laws in this bill would be the following:
      
      1) Citizens can stop and search police officers while on duty, to make sure they aren't carrying anything they could use to plant evidence (e.g. drugs, a spare gun, etc.)
      
      2) Citizens can place GPS trackers on police vehicles without a warrant.
      
      3) Officers are to be fingerprinted and submit a DNA sample, which will be entered into a database maintained by the civilian community.
      
      4) Officers are to go through a backscatter body scanner before entering another neighborhood.
      
      5) In the event that officers will search a suspect's property, officers will have to submit to a strip search and a cavity search before entering such property.
      
      6) Any officer who is accused of terrorism by any person may be detained indefinitely in someone's basement. Civilians are allowed to waterboard officers detained in this manner in order to obtain information.
      
      7) 3 strikes plan: each time a civilian complains of an officer's behavior, the officer will receive a formal notice, also known as a "strike". After 3 strikes, the officer will be barred from carrying a weapon.
      
      8) Officers or politicians who do not approve of this bill will be labeled child molesting terrorists.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:44pm

Can anyone read all of what's on the poster? From what I can see, the cops gave out their home address and accused them of interfering with police business and endangerment.
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- Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:56pm
  
  Re:
  Yep, that's what I see too. So what if we take pictures of the cops, call them agitators, and then list their home addresses? Would we get by with simply removing the posters?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- rukidding (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:56pm
  
  Re:
  From what I can tell, the poster only states the street that they live in and warns the police to be careful in that area because these two people have a tendency to portray the police's actions in a negative way.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:11pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Oh, then that's okay.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:15pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Unfortunately, the poster would do more harm than good. Competent officers don't need to be told not to attack people for taking pictures of them. Incompetent ones would think the poster was an actual wanted poster and head off to break into their house and beat them into submission.
    
    Still, it's a start. Needs to be generic, though. How about, "When people take your picture, smile and wave."?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 5:39pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      *smile and wave the bird
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2012 @ 2:41am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      The day police officers would smile and wave when photgraphed seems so long ago.
      
      My father taught me that the policeman is a friend.
      My children will be taught that he is to be avoided.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - RD, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:36pm
    
    Re: Re:
    "From what I can tell, the poster only states the street that they live in and warns the police to be careful in that area because these two people have a tendency to portray the police's actions in a negative way."
    
    How in the name of all that's holy is filming the EXACT actions of the police and posting them portraying the police actions "in a negative way?"
    
    We need a new designation. Police State Apologist. We'll call their messages PSA's.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 7:57pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      How in the name of all that's holy is filming the EXACT actions of the police and posting them portraying the police actions "in a negative way?"
      
      It depends on what those actions are...
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Travis H, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:33pm
  
  Re:
  Yes, it did. Whoever posted this flyer (Likely a "Sgt. Nicholson" as he was listed as a point of contact for more information) needs to be properly punished. If it is Sgt. Nicholson, he needs to be immediately removed from the force for blatant abuse of authority, defamation, and suppression of Constitutional Rights.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Travis H, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:36pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Oh, almost forgot. Public Endangerment. The layout of the poster is obviously intended to make people think the couple are dangerous criminals. Including their home address on it is essentially a call for vigilante violence against the couple.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 9:51pm
    
    Re: Re:
    ... needs to be immediately removed from the force for blatant...
    
    Cop fighting to stay on force after conviction for felony assault.
    
    �Convicted 'kicking' cop fights for job� by Tim White, WPRI, 5 Jul 2012:
    
    NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) � Convicted Lincoln Police Officer Edward Krawetz was a no-show on the first day of an administrative hearing to determine if he can continue to wear a badge.
    
    The 12-year veteran of the force is fighting to keep his job after he was convicted of felony assault in March. The case is best known for video from a security camera at Twin River in Lincoln showing Krawetz kicking a handcuffed woman to the head.
    
    Under the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights... [...more...]
    
    Cop fighting to stay on force after conviction for felony assault��now that's blatant.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Androgynous Cowherd, 9 Jul 2012 @ 11:39pm
      
      Hail the Sixth Amendment!
      The 12-year veteran of the force is fighting to keep his job after he was convicted of felony assault in March. The case is best known for video from a security camera at Twin River in Lincoln showing Krawetz kicking a handcuffed woman to the head.
      
      And there's that handy Sixth Amendment again, which granted her defense the right to subpoena the security tape footage once they knew a camera was pointed at the area where the incident occurred.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Rabbit80, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:55pm
  
  Re:
  Translation - I ***'d out the numbers in the addresses and couldn't make out Sgt Nicholsons cell number.
  
  "Be aware that above subjects are known professional agitators that live at **5 West 1**th Street. Above subjects mo is that they video tape officers performing routine stops and post on Youtube. Subjects purpose is to portray officers in a negative way and too deter officers from conducting their responsibilities. Above subjects also deter officers from being safe and facticial by causing unnecessary distraction. Do not feed into above subjects propaganda.
  Sgt Nicholson 30 Pct ??? cell ?-???-???-????"
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Rabbit80, 9 Jul 2012 @ 4:00pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Sounds like an internal warning for officers not to react negatively if they are in a position of being flimed / heckled by these two. Not too sure what the problem is unless these were put out for public viewing (which the article does not state.)
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
robynwhatever (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:49pm

Wow
I can understand why the Police are camera shy, no video = no accusations of improper conduct etc. but unless we live in a secret police state and as long as the Police are public servants for Law and Order, they should be aired out. The Constitution of the United States of America guarantees every citizens right to free speech, not suppression or repression. The Police shouldn't be so camera shy in our free country.
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:02pm

why would the police say why they did it? that would be an admission of 'we did it because we can, even though it was wrong and we know it'.
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anonymous dutch coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:05pm

can you spell "moderate"
are there any moderate middle-of-the road yanks left, or are all of them either crypto fascist cops or anarcho syndicalist justin bieber groupies?
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- Bob V (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:17pm
  
  Re: can you spell "moderate"
  im not a groupie
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 5:42pm
  
  Re: can you spell "moderate"
  Some of us are fascist anarchists
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:24pm

hall of fame
So if some of these posters went up for sale on eBay, which autographs would fetch the higher price, Gonzalez and Swaye, or the NYC police commissioner?
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Violated (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:26pm

Well I don't see a big problem in this story.

Their recordings were annoying the Police who decided to strike back at them. However this poster was unprofessional of the Police and it is good to see it was soon removed. The biggest issue here seems to be violating their privacy, including publishing their home address, then putting them at risk of assault due to the criminal looking theme.

We can learn from this that if you video the Police you may well get some objections. One can also wonder if recorded events can be seen in the correct context. So I can only feel that maybe the Police need to more welcome this community interest though some documentary like cooperation.
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- JBDragon, 9 Jul 2012 @ 4:41pm
  
  Re:
  I would see about Suing the Police!!!! The Police are Public Figures. We have every right to make sure they do their job correctly. You shouldn't have anything to hide! On the other hand putting up what looks like a Wanted posted of people who did nothing at all wrong is a Invasion of Privacy!!! Posting there Address on it makes it even worse.
  
  Put it this way, the Police don't even put up posters of Child Molesters and their address up on posters!!! If anything that would be 1000 times more helpful to the people of the neighborhood!!!!
  
  I can't believe the police still have a problem with this when it gets thrown out of court in every case. But this is a new low of the police!!!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2012 @ 2:46am
    
    Re: Re:
    You should feel lucky that the police doesn't arrest you for LOOKING at them while they're dealing with a suspect.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:41pm

Amazing how the irony escapes them
"The poster did describe them as "professional agitators." "

Ironic that policemen are getting paid to do this sort of thing.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Androgynous Cowherd, 9 Jul 2012 @ 11:43pm
  
  Re: Amazing how the irony escapes them
  "The poster did describe them as "professional agitators." "
  
  Ironic that policemen are getting paid to do this sort of thing.
  
  I wonder if that poster might even be actionable. Calling someone a "professional agitator" who isn't seems likely to qualify as defamation.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 11:48pm
    
    Re: Re: Amazing how the irony escapes them
    ... might even be actionable. Calling someone a "professional agitator"...
    
    Best to just take it as a compliment.
    
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Mega1987 (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 3:44pm

Wanted posters for those who video tapes Policemen who where either doing their job right or making a fool of themselves?

Darwin awardee brains in their noggin....

No wonder there are more BAD cops than decent ones in the word....
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 5:57pm

Am I the only one who instantly thought she looks like Zee Hernandez from DMZ?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Greevar (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 6:57pm

This is starting to look like a movie I once saw.
I believe there was a poster extolling the moral crimes of some people spreading "sedition".
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
-, 9 Jul 2012 @ 7:02pm

THIEF and VIOLATOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
Bradley Odle (a/k/a B.D. Odle)
3480 County Road 2550
Pomona, Missouri
469-2217

Employer: Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop G (a group of fellow thieves and Constitutional rights violators).
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 7:35pm

I think this story shows why Techdirt gets things wrong.

When someone pirates something, it's a "personal choice". When someone takes a video, they are always working alone - with absolutely no agenda. Yet, when a single officer in a single precinct makes up a poster, it's "the police" as a group who are broadbrushed.

"the police still have not explained why they created them in the first place."

Why no identify who you spoke to? Why the broad grouping rather than the individualization? Oh wait, you want anyone in authority to be a cardboard cutout, a faceless operative of a large secretive group.

Weiner.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Greevar (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 9:33pm
  
  Re:
  Troll harder. You suck at it.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 9:57pm
    
    Re: Re:
    This from a guy who can only manage half a line. Bite me.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Greevar (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 10:37pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Your comment doesn't merit a thorough response because you're a hateful moron. Now go away pest.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 9:54pm
  
  Re:
  "when a single officer in a single precinct makes up a poster, it's "the police" as a group who are broadbrushed."
  
  Absolutely, when the police don't voluntarily take disciplinary action against this sort of behavior, on their own without public pressure, then they should get collectively blamed.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 10:30pm
    
    Re: Re:
    ..."the police" as a group who are broadbrushed...
    
    Four Dozen Police Salute A Murderer
    
    Nearly 50 Spokane police officers saluted convicted Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. in federal court as U.S. marshals led him away Friday, prompting Mayor Mary Verner and police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick to apologize for their actions.
    
    A Yakima jury Wednesday convicted Thompson of using excessive force and lying to cover up his attack on 36-year-old Otto Zehm in 2006....
    
    Some four dozen Spokane police officers and other supporters stood while someone yelled, �Present arms.� The crowd then saluted Thompson; he smiled at the gesture and walked out, flanked by U.S. marshals, who had not placed him in handcuffs....
    
    Of course, [former] Officer Karl Thompson wasn't really convicted of murdering Otto Zehm. No, he just �violated his civil rights�.
    
    Immediately following Officer Karl Thompson's conviction in connection with the brutal, videotaped beating death of Otto Zehm, Officer Karl Thompson served a weekend in jail. Then he was released. He has not yet been sentenced, and Officer Karl Thompson remains free on a signature bond.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 11:08pm
    
    Re: Re:
    ...then they should get collectively blamed.
    
    �Off-duty officers escort Sgt. Clifford out of jail� by Tim Blotz and Mike Durkin, KMSP, June 19, 2012
    
    ANOKA, Minn. (KMSP) - Bail was set at $15,000 Tuesday morning for Minneapolis Police Sgt. David Clifford, the man accused of sucker-punching a Ramsey man for talking loud on his cell phone on a bar patio.
    
    .�.�.�.
    
    Prosecutors asked for $25,000 bail, citing concerns Clifford would be a flight risk. Judge Fredrickson noted Clifford has strong ties to the community, but was concerned about the seriousness of the allegations against him.
    
    In making her case to Judge Fredrickson for a conditional release, Bass noted Clifford's service as a Minneapolis SWAT team leader and refered to the presence of a number of off-duty ununiformed officers in the courtroom on his behalf. A half dozen of those men escorted him out of jail to the Goldberg Bail Bonds office accross the street.
    
    .�.�.�.
    
    This little escort incident reminded folks of the collective police salute for convicted officer Karl Thompson.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 11:19pm
    
    Re: Re:
    ...when the police don't voluntarily take disciplinary action...
    
    �L.A. County sheriff's official tells of jail brutality� by Robert Faturechi and Jack Leonard, Los Angeles Times, July 7, 2012:
    
    A former lieutenant says Capt. Daniel Cruz, head of the Men's Central Jail, created an atmosphere of violence that encouraged misconduct and did not tolerate complaints.
    
    The Los Angeles County sheriff's captain who ran the Men's Central Jail fostered a culture of brutality by protecting dishonest deputies and permitting his underlings to use excessive force on inmates, his former lieutenant alleged in testimony Friday.
    
    Capt. Daniel Cruz even joked at the department's annual Christmas party about hitting inmates, according to Michael Bornman, who is now a department captain. While toasting deputies at the party, Cruz allegedly asked a banquet hall-full of jailers: "What do I always tell you guys?"
    
    In unison, Bornman said, the jail deputies � many of whom were laughing � responded "Not in the face."
    
    "That's right," Cruz replied, according to Bornman. "Not in the face." Bornman said the slogan was an instruction to strike inmates on parts of the body where their blows wouldn't leave marks.
    
    [...more...]
    
    Would it be �disciplinary action� if someone was hit in the face?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2012 @ 2:08am
  
  Re:
  Broad grouping? Funny you should mention that. The RIAA/MPAA have been using this to justify every single law and settlement demand that they've pushed out. Everyone is in some faceless pedomurderrorist organisation aimed at getting free music, movies, pornography and beer, which is why we need laws like SOPA so poor innocent CEOs can shutdown any attempt to parody or satirise them. It also hits the main demographics guilty of such anti-American behaviour the hardest - children, grandmothers, misnamed people, homeless people, disabled people, dead people, laser printers and iguanas.
  
  You want everyone to be a dumb consumer at the behest of whatever laws the industry feels like dishing out, and the reckless enforcement of said laws. You broadbrush Techdirt. Why can't people broadbrush people? Or do you have some super-special-secret patent and copyright on broadbrushing?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 9 Jul 2012 @ 7:42pm

So you are claiming that a rogue officer used the logos of the honorable NY police force to do it?

Is that a prank?

People should film the police officer fixating those illegal posters then, so the police officers involved should be held accountable to their acts don't you think?
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sorrykb (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 7:47pm

Why?

the police still have not explained why they created them in the first place.

Um... because they can?
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Thomas (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 8:34pm

Very Simple..
the cops hate people who videotape them. They fully believe that it is or should be a crime to videotape the police anyway.

The cops see no reason why they should not harras people who annoy them. Civil rights are not the concern of the cops anyway.
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Michael, 10 Jul 2012 @ 6:54am

I think that a lot of the videotaping of police in NYC is encouraged indirectly by their 'stop and frisk' policy. Asking people at random to submit to a search is unconstitutional and works to eliminates trust between law enforcement and the public who pay their salaries. It also raises serious concerns about racial profiling.

Putting up a poster of people along with their names and addresses simply for videotaping the police while on duty is a thinly-veiled threat to others to dissuade them from performing the same actions. Apparently it's A-OK when law enforcement and businesses do surveillance, including accessing over 1.3 million mobile phones without user consent, but not when a citizen does it to a cop.
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Anonemoose, 11 Jul 2012 @ 8:41pm

re:
I can remember when they were just unpaid "Intern Agitators"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
haroldmcguire, 11 Dec 2013 @ 10:54pm

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