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Citizens Given Video Cameras To Monitor Police

Posted by kdawson on from the project-vigilant dept.

atommota writes "After years of complaints of police misconduct, the ACLU is giving free video cameras to some residents of high-crime neighborhoods in St. Louis, MO to help them monitor officers. The ACLU of Eastern Missouri launched the project Wednesday after television crews last year broadcast video of officers punching and kicking a suspect who led police on a car chase. 'The idea here is to level the playing field, so it's not just your word against the police's word,' said Brenda Jones, executive director of the ACLU chapter. The ACLU has worked closely with the police to make sure they are aware of this program. This is in stark contrast to the recent Pennsylvania arrest for felony wiretapping of a guy who was videotaping a police stop."

3 of 434 comments (clear)

  1. The Pennsylvania case is over by smooth+wombat · · Score: 4, Informative
    The charges in the Pennsylvania case referenced in the posting have been withdrawn.


    From the article:

    "When police are audio- and video-recording traffic stops with notice to the subjects, similar actions by citizens, even if done in secret, will not result in criminal charges."

    The fact that this made the national news doesn't surprise me. This is Pennsylvania where our new state motto is:

    Doing our best to become the next New Jersey.

    --
    We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  2. Re:The ACLU and the 2nd amendment by rhakka · · Score: 4, Informative

    Why guess?

    Here's what the ACLU says about it.

    I don't see what's "selective" about that. While any particular person (including me) may disagree with the philosophy behind it, this is a very well reasoned stance... there is ambiguity in what the constitution says and means on this issue, the ACLU protects constitutional rights when such rights are clear.

    I'm pro-gun and pro-ACLU, just to name my own bias.

  3. Re:What do you do it. . . by Dadoo · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yah...10x digital zoom, not optical.

    Umm, no. My camcorder is almost 5 years old. It has 6x optical zoom and 200x digital zoom. If you had actually taken the effort to check at bestbuy.com, you'd have seen camcorders with at least 35x optical and 1000x digital zoom.

    --
    Sit, Ubuntu, sit. Good dog.