UDPride

Had I knew I had video tape rolling I would have not been anywhere near as forgiving and apologetic as this kid. He was probably scared, but knowing I had that ace in the hole I would have baited the officer to dig his own grave even further.

Here you had a 40yr old (?) officer having a conversation with a 20yr old and the 40yd old sounds like he's about 7 or 8. Every time he said "why are you giving me an attitude" I would have said "because I feel threatened by you that you are going to harm me unprovoked based on your behavior and I have a right to protect myself and my rights."

And remember, for every one caught on tape, theres probably 20 others just like this where the driver had to eat a ticket or walk into court guilty before proven innocent against the he said/she said word of the officer. Without tape, you could never prove something like this to this degree.

Ron_H

Chris, in principle I agree with you. However, speaking from personal experience, a person confronted with this behavior has as his first responsibility the preservation of his own life and he would need to stay alive long enough to retrieve the tape and get it into court. He had no weapon while the officer had several and didn't know he was being taped, so what reason did he have to restrain himself, since no other witnesses were around? It seems the officer is busted either way, but it is true, your approach would have nailed the coffin more securely.

chaadster

The cop was aware of the cam--he asked the driver about it, then said he didn't care if it was running or not, because he had his own cam and body mic.

This only underscores your point even more, though, showing this cop as irrational, agitated, and probably willing to act violently.

The kid was wise to be cautious (though he got arrested anyway).

John Struthers

It takes all kinds...
We have several spots here in George "I rode the short bus" Bush's hometown of Midland -aka God Forsaken-, Texas.
Where the kids, and sometime older ladies and gentlemen, mounted on Hyper-bikes and Super-bikes literally run wild. Lookouts with cell phones and cheapie handhelds posted, Tachometers and tires smoking and a general attitude of ' bring it on' permeating the site ... cop cars are in a word, useless.
This was initiated by the Klown Kode, whereby it became a prosecutable offence to 'WATCH' the rowdies. No need to participate just be in the area. the Hot Rod /NOPI types went underground first
But with arrival of 110-120 HP 600 cc bikes a few years ago ( and God only know's where the NO2 loaded 750 thru 1400 cc class bikes stand on the HP meter ) and 1/4 mile times that look more like 0-60 car times it has been declared (unoffically) a waste of time to tag the 2 wheelers, particularly, en-mass.
Now then, if the gung-ho type cops in your neighborhood are looking for action.
I think the Philly Police Chief has put out the call for about 10,000 Bmack men to walk the city streets to keep violent crime down. as much as saying he lost the war on crime. Big Plate of Crow!
I'm sure he'd accept the offer of your city/county's ace knuckle dragger's.
As for taping... what's good for the Goose...