Watching The Cops
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Title: Cops Turn into Bullies After they’re Filmed Breaking the Very Laws they are Supposed to Enforce
Source:
Free Thought Project
URL Source: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/co ... reaking-laws-supposed-enforce/
Published: May 26, 2015
Author: Matt Agorist
Post Date: 2015-05-26 20:46:41 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 2799
Comments: 11
On May 18, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted a large-scale revenue collection operation masked as concern for public safety. A post on their Facebook page explains how the revenue collection initiative will be heavily enforced during the last two weeks in May. They describe how in a single four-hour event, 27 officers were able to conduct 227 traffic stops. In four hours this event resulted in: 227 traffic stops, 159 seatbelt citations issued, 7 child restraint citations, 6 people arrested and brought to jail, 29 drivers cited for Driving After Revocation or Suspension, 49 “other” citations, and 1 DWI arrest. The resultant revenue generated in that four-hour period is well over $10,000.00. One would think that the officers who enforce seat belt laws would be hyper-aware of these laws and always buckle up. One would be wrong. After seeing this wholesale hypocrisy on seatbelt laws, police accountability activist, Andrew Henderson grabbed his camera and went to document officers without their seatbelts on. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. Henderson explains on a Facebook post what went on that day. As I have seen many officers drive without seat belts, I found this to be a double standard and an unethical means of revenue generation. Henderson was able to catch multiple officers without their seatbelts on. They were completely open about it and made no attempts to buckle up as they were being filmed. While some of the officers were cordial, he was eventually confronted by St. Paul Police officer A. Abla-Reyes who was anything but. Henderson was unlawfully detained by Abla-Reyes for alleged suspicious activity. He was bullied and harassed for several minutes before being threatened with arrest if he didn’t stop practicing his First Amendment right. This is the behavior that creates a divide between the police and the public. It’s bad enough that we can be kidnapped, caged, and killed for supposed crimes with no victim. However, when we see the enforcers of these laws for victimless crimes disobeying the very laws we could be killed over, it is infuriating. Below is the video of this hypocrisy. The Free Thought Project asked Henderson his thoughts on this incident. Here’s what he had to say: I think the fact that I have routinely documented police misconduct inside and outside the Saint Paul police department speaks for itself. There are hundreds of cameras watching the citizens throughout Saint Paul controlled by the SPPD, but for some reason if you watch them engaged in their duties, they seem to think you are a terrorist or have negative intentions. The public sidewalk is not private property. The officer was most definitely in the wrong, but as it was a Friday on a holiday weekend, I didn’t want to spend three-days in jail. Otherwise I would have stood my ground and continued to film on that corner. Police officers need to realize that people are going to film them due to the historical documentation of misconduct, and police departments need to put policies in place to protect those doing so. As the trust of the internal affairs process falls, I can see more activists, citizen journalists, and members of the public conducting their own investigations such as this.
In the ‘will they ever learn’ group – one driver was cited two times for No Seatbelt Use within 30 minutes by two separate officers.
Increased enforcement efforts are going on statewide through the rest of the month. Buckle up!
On Friday, May 22nd, I decided to stand on a street corner outside of the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center with a camera to document officer seat belt use.
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#1. To: Deckard (#0)
I find this statement not only untrue, but it definitely reeks with hypocrisy, It is counter to fact and reality. If Andrew Henderson had been so infuriated (extremely angry) by this, then he would have taken immediate action and not just stood there continuing to shoot video.
I'd say the only hypocrisy on display here is that of cops refusing to obey the same laws that the average citizen must obey. Your continual defending of these cops borders on obsession, and your fetish for those in authority would be laughable if it weren't so utterly pathetic.
The cops violated the law, I agree with that. They should not have and action should have been taken against them. But, Andrew Henderson is a hypocrite. The reason why he is a hypocrite is that he was/is duly authorized under Minnesota Statutes § 629.37 to make a citizen’s arrest of the police officers without their seatbelts on. Minnesota Statutes: 169.686 SEAT BELT USE REQUIRED; PENALTY. If Henderson were sincere about calling attention to the problem, he would have done that. He would have become a mega-hero to the anti-cop crowd if he did that. If the cops refused to be arrested, he would “own” them. If they allowed themselves to be arrested, he would “own” them even more. By not performing a citizen’s arrest, he will forever remain a flunky hypocrite with a video camera causing a nuisance. Can’t you just see it….(drum roll, please): Andrew Henderson Performs a Citizen’s Arrest Under Minnesota Law on a Cop.
I was in the back a a police car one day. The officer driving was speeding and not coming to complete stops at stop signs. Also not wearing a seat belt. I don't remember if I said anything about the speeding and not completely stopping. But I asked him why he didn't have his seat belt on when he gave me a ticket for it. Or something like that. He said they were exempt because they are police officers and they may need to not be restrained in a seat belt. Because of probably safety and mobility pertaining to the functions of a police officers work. Like maybe they have to get out real quick and draw their gun and have a duel or something. Or if they have to get out real quick and jump on the hood of a car and unload into the suspects.
He would have become a mega-hero to the anti-cop crowd if he did that. If the cops refused to be arrested, he would “own” them. If they allowed themselves to be arrested, he would “own” them even more. By not performing a citizen’s arrest, he will forever remain a flunky hypocrite with a video camera causing a nuisance. Can’t you just see it….(drum roll, please): In some states you can't arrest someone for not wearing a seat belt. It has to be a secondary offense. Like if they get you for speeding, and you don't have your seat belt on they get you for both. They can't just pull you over for your seat belt. At least not here. Also trying to arrest an officer for that would be stupid. If he did it you would be saying the same.
You just don't get it, do you tool? Cops will never be prosecuted for failing to wear a seat belt. They will not be prosecuted for texting or using their computer while driving, even when they kill someone. The reason why he is a hypocrite is that he was/is duly authorized under Minnesota Statutes § 629.37 to make a citizen’s arrest of the police officers without their seatbelts on. Minnesota Statutes: 169.686 SEAT BELT USE REQUIRED; PENALTY. If Henderson were sincere about calling attention to the problem, he would have done that. Uh-huh. And he would have been arrested for filing a false police report since cops do not have to follow the same laws as the rest of us do. Let that sink in. If the cops refused to be arrested, he would “own” them. Don't be naive - the cops would have tased, beaten and possibly shot him for having the audacity to question their authority.
I repeat: If the kid felt so strongly about it, enough to spend that much time….then he should have done a citizen’s arrest.
MN law says you can perform a citizen’s arrest under 3 conditions. The one applicable here is if the offense is punishable by fine or jail time. The no seat belt offense is a $25 fine, so that qualifies. I agree on the stupid part. That was tongue in cheek. I personally think standing around all day video taping cops is stupid. I fail to see what the kid wanted to prove. Or better still, how what he was doing would change or improve anything. I could not find that it accomplished anything. Oh, sorry….he got his name on the Internet. Bottom line for me: If it is the law in MN....then the cops should obey it.
Then Hamilton is wasting his time video taping it….and you are wasting my time discussing it with no solution to offer. Moving on…
Great...FANTASTIC!!! Let him have a partner video that happening. That would surely hit The Free Through Project with a DOS and overload their server for some time. Can't you just see Hamilton's picture showing on TFTP with him looking like this: Well, something like this ...
I read the MN law again and I believe cops have to wear a seat belt with the one exception I mentioned. Seattle code specifically states they must. Some cities, counties, and states exempt emergency vehicles from seat belt laws.
…when we see the enforcers of these laws for victimless crimes disobeying the very laws we could be killed over, it is infuriating. [Boldness Added]
#2. To: Gatlin (#1)
I find this statement not only untrue, but it definitely reeks with hypocrisy
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#3. To: Deckard (#2)
(Edited)
#4. To: Gatlin (#3)
The cops violated the law, I agree with that. They should not have and action should have been taken against them.
#5. To: Gatlin (#3)
But, Andrew Henderson is a hypocrite. The reason why he is a hypocrite is that he was/is duly authorized under Minnesota Statutes § 629.37 to make a citizen’s arrest of the police officers without their seatbelts on. Minnesota Statutes: 169.686 SEAT BELT USE REQUIRED; PENALTY. If Henderson were sincere about calling attention to the problem, he would have done that.
#6. To: Gatlin (#3)
The cops violated the law, I agree with that. They should not have and action should have been taken against them.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#7. To: A K A Stone (#4)
He said they were exempt because they are police officers and they may need to not be restrained in a seat belt. Because of probably safety and mobility pertaining to the functions of a police officers work. Like maybe they have to get out real quick and draw their gun and have a duel or something. Or if they have to get out real quick and jump on the hood of a car and unload into the suspects.
That was the first thing that occurred to me, that they were exempt. And it makes sense that they not be requited to wear the seat belt. However, I read the MN law a couple of times. One can read a law many ways, but the best way I can read it for MN is that if they are in the process of getting in and out repeatedly….will they not have to wear a seat belt.
#8. To: A K A Stone (#5)
In some states you can't arrest someone for not wearing a seat belt. It has to be a secondary offense. Like if they get you for speeding, and you don't have your seat belt on they get you for both. They can't just pull you over for your seat belt. At least not here. Also trying to arrest an officer for that would be stupid. If he did it you would be saying the same.
#9. To: Deckard (#6)
The cops violated the law, I agree with that. They should not have and action should have been taken against them. Cops will never be prosecuted for failing to wear a seat belt.
#10. To: Deckard (#6)
Don't be naive - the cops would have tased, beaten and possibly shot him for having the audacity to question their authority.
#11. To: A K A Stone (#4)
...wearing a seat belt.
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