Filming Police: Is It Your Right?

Last week a Philadelphia judged ruled that an individuals desire to film a police encounter was not protected under the First Amendment. This ruling did come with a catch however, filming would be allowed and protected if you had and explicit and critical reason for doing so.

 

Photo From: http://www.forbes.com/sites/tarunwadhwa/2013/06/04/watching-back-how-using-surveillance-technologies-on-law-enforcement-can-improve-policing/#43eb586e5fea

This ruling was brought about by two court cases, in which two separate individuals suing the city during instances when they were forced to stop recording. One of the individuals was Temple University Undergraduate student, Richard Fields. Fields was recording police outside a college house party. When asked to leave, Fields refused, resulting in his detainment in the back of a police van.

This ruling comes in the wake of the past years outcry of police brutality cases and the strengthening of the Black Lives Matter Movement taking place around the country. In addition, I feel like this ruling pushes against the incentive many police units are taking in encouraging and enforcing the use of body cameras. When recording takes place, there is no disagreement about what might have occurred during an encounter between a citizen and officer goes poorly. In my opinion, recording shouldn't be threatening to an officer doing his job, but instead maybe comforting. With some individuals fearing their safety at the hands of some members of the police force, this bloggers feels like this ruling won't due much when it comes to easing public concerns. Thankfully, an appeals is scheduled, writing this, in my opinion, misruling.