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Seriously, at least in the US if you are afraid of the police, stop and ask why? Chances are it's either irrational, or you know you're doing something that you should not.

Bullshit.

I did a little Googling concerning the Florida harassment incidents, and uncovered a much bigger can or worms. Check this page out:
http://www.policeabuse.org/badcops.html
For the incredible Florida video, scroll down near the end, there's a link to Miami's CBS4 News story.

Documentation of questionable police activity, police officer misconduct, abuse, and other crime by cops.

Dave, you live in Madison. I lived in Madison. You have no fucking idea how bad the police officers are in other parts of the country (or even in other parts of Wisconsin, though still very much above average). The person who was arrested here would have no recourse if a witness had not been present. Think about that again. The person who was arrested would have no recourse had a witness not been present. Look up the police report. It sure the hell does not say: "Went on private property, dragged person off private property, then made my arrest on public property." Hell no.

Even you would have a hard time with your resources getting out of this one. Every officers' police report will back up the arresting officers police report. Who is the judge going to believe? Who is the jury instructed by the judge going to believe? Any questions about a valid charge, then you are going to have to understand that you were resisting arrest at the time you were arrested. All officers present attest to it. So even if the underlying charge was invalid the arrest is still valid.

There is a reason the person with a camera was arrested. A camera is a witness. It can often be an unimpeachable witness. An unimpeachable witness is the only thing aside from an officer's conscience that really protects you from harm when a police officer chooses to abuse his power.

More here: Police Abuse, Misconduct, and Other Crime by Officers

PoliceAbuse.org investigates illegal behavior by cops. They have quite a track record of collecting video and audio coverage, they've worked with TV stations, and they're having some real effect.

They could use some web site design help.

Candid Cop Camera (6/28)
  John Bell took a photograph of a Hudson, Ohio, police cruiser being towed out of mud. David Devore, the police officer whose u-turn put the car into the mud, apparently didn't appreciate the move. And Devore's cruiser camera captured the exchange. "Camera and film now. I'm not going to ask you again. I'll give you the count of three or I can make your life a living hell. You made the decision, I'll give you that choice," he told Bell. Then he took the memory card from Bell's digital camera and erased the image. Devore was suspended for one day for his action. But Bell says that isn't enough. He has sued Devore and the city claiming he was stopped without probable cause, wrongfully detained, verbally abused and deprived of his property.

if the government's going to stick cameras all over the public sphere, then if there's a civilian-cop altercation of any kind, if the film is not available for whatever reason then the civilian will be automatically presumed innocent and blameless. Otherwise, it's FAR too easy for the government to conveniently "lose" any film that makes it out to be the guilty party.
Comment by: Jennifer at July 29, 2005 11:53 AM

The Aurora police department, which shot seven people last year and killed five, is taking steps to examine the use of deadly force....On Dec. 3, 2003, Jammal Bonner, 20, found himself outside the Top Star motel selling crack cocaine to an undercover police officer posing as a hooker. Police were trying to arrest prostitution patrons. A police surveillance camera was rolling and a "street arrest team" was in place, ready to take down suspects. Bonner wasn't interested in sex, though, and the undercover police officer said she lured him up to a motel room. But what exactly happened in that room at the Top Star motel? As four SWAT officers pour into the room, the surveillance tape was turned off....
Comment by: Nobody Important at July 29, 2005 01:56 PM

You're kidding, right? History has proven, and will continue to prove, that some (but not all, or even most) police officers will abuse any authority they can get. There have been cops accused to using the national law enforcement databases to get home addresses of attractive women and then stalking them, among other abuses.

In spite of our constitutional right to privacy in our own home, police are allowed to monitor your cordless and cellular phones WITHOUT A WARRANT, even if you use them only in your home, if they can recieve the signal without entering your property. They can use signal amplifiers and directional antennas. There has been at least one case where this was done, and the resulting tapes given to the victem's (who was running for office) political opponent.

Not to mention what could happen if you lost your ID card and it fell into the wrong hands.

The less info that's on my ID, the happier, and safer, I am

Check out this site: http://www.policeabuse.org/ -- these guys go and do things like ask police stations for a complaint form, and videotape the results. As often as not they get arrested or get some very interesting non-legal comments from the cops. Amusingly, once the cops find out they've been videotaped, every single time they drop all charges. Check on your locale and see how the cops there rate (Dekalb County in Atlanta got a grade of F).