WHO ARE THEY PROTECTING?

Question

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTBuDIybwWw

This 25-year-old Maryland Air National Guard sergeant Anthony Graber is facing 16 years in prison, Just because he posted this video on YouTube. Graber was cut off in traffic and stopped by this gun-wielding plainclothes officer after speeding down Interstate 95 in Maryland on his motorcycle. He was, rightly, charged with speeding. But state police didn’t like the fact that Graber posted his video on YouTube.

So in April state police raided his parents’ home in Abingdon, Md., and confiscated his camera, computer and external hard drives. Then he was indicted on a charge of violating state wiretap laws by recording the trooper.

Many of us were raised with the idea that the police are there to protect us. All too often those sworn to protect us are nothing more than abusive, power-mad thugs with the authority of the state behind their actions.

So what we are learning is it is perfectly okay for police officers to record their encounters with suspects using dash cameras in their patrol cars and hidden cameras in their interrogation rooms, but if a citizen being accosted by police or witnessing police abuse records the incident the state will treat him like he’s John Dillinger. So much for the idea of “To protect and serve.”

politicallyincorrect · Accepted Answer

It absolutely should be a right for any citizen to videotape any police officer performing his duty as long as they don't interfere with the officer in the process.  I have nothing but respect for the honest officers who risk their lives every day dealing with low-lifes, thugs, and evil people; but to protect citizens from the dishonest officers, they need to be held accountable and if a camera can do that, so be it.

Anonymous · Answer

Sounds like bullshit to me. I didn't see the undercover cop show his badge or identify himself as police officer, but Oh well.

If the prevailing logic for law enforcement is that there is no reasonable expectation on a public road, then that should apply to them too. Additionally, police officers are doing their jobs properly, following policy and procedure and being professionals then they shouldn't be worried about the public filming them.

furious S · Answer

Interesting

What it is is the exposure of the law - they like to be seen as the good guys - never bad.

Remember the infamous Rodney King beating?

Look what happened after that!

STEVEN F · Answer

This is the LEAST competent reporting I have seen in quite a while.  They left out literally ALL the facts of the case.  In addition, they reporter doesn't even know that a plain clothes officer and an under cover officer are two different things.  An under cover officer does NOT identify themselves as an officer.  The source of this video, Democracy Now, makes extremist political blogs look like credible news sources.

? · Answer

and if i smashed a burglar on the head and killed him i would go to jail, a police officer has just been cleared of doing just that, and in the street as well

WHO ARE THEY PROTECTING?

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