I can't believe you pulled your gun..

[k0ua]

There must be more to the story. The camera man said "You guys have done enough to my family". What was that about? What was the "instant attitude" when asked to remove his hand from his pocket? If a man has his hand on a handgun in his pocket, do you realize how quickly he can draw and fire that handgun at those distances?
The camera man could have a bullet in the cop in less than 1.5 seconds. It will take the cop about half that time to just make the decision to begin to draw his firearm, then the draw, the presentation and the firing of his weapon will take about that 1.5 seconds, depending on his skill level. The police officer has a decided disadvantage if the camera man decided to kill him. The officer made the decision to decrease that disadvantage.. Good or bad decision that was what he was thinking.

The reason for driving around the neighborhood, and the reason for stopping and checking out the cameraman, are perhaps debatable. The Cameraman's anger level, was high. For what reason?

From the video, neither were totally in the right, neither were totally wrong. But why go looking for trouble? Enough trouble in life will find you without seeking it out. But I think there must be more to the story.

 

[Tompet]

That cop is out of his mind, drawing his weapon at that time.

CCW folks know that the cop is in his rights to do a meander stop if he thinks something is suspicious or is responding to a call. The camera guy doesn't respond well, but the cop only needs to maintain his distance, not draw his weapon and advance, potentially escalating the really stupid situation of a bystander videoing a cop.

We should also consider that the context is a newer subdivision, middle-class neighborhood, where most people do look at the police rolling through wondering what is going on.

Filming police is not a matter for police to become suspicious of the person filming.

The officer should have waved and moved on since he didn't have (we presume) reasonable cause for a meander stop (which apparently wasn't performed).

Anyway, the take-away is this: filming a cop is not baiting.

Agree. I looked up Rohnert cop video and there are many links to more on the story. I do think the guy should have pulled his hand out of his pocket just to confirm he had nothing before suggesting the cop to take a hike. The cop was placed on temp. paid leave.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/calif-pulls-gun-man-recording-video-article-1.2316656

 

[rekees4300]

With so many attacks against police officers happening today, it would be foolish to assume anything. If he felt threatened or the need to have his pistol in his hand, I would say that he was well within his rights. People that get shot by the police are doing something stupid. It's just a matter of how far you push them. In my world, you do what the officer says, you remain calm and respectful and in every instance, nothing bad happens. Act the fool, be a big mouth, push the barriers and you risk getting shot.

Eddie you hit the nail on the head! :thumbsup: Cops have a tough job, they are damned if they do and dead if they don't.

 

[jimmyj]

I tell ya i'd hate to be a cop right now. The cop sure had an attitude, but the camera guy could have said "good morning, is something going on" and then taken his hand out of his pocket and said "looked like something was going on" and no issue. There is more to this story. But by no means did the cop handle it well.

 

[Mace Canute]

What did the cop actually accomplish?

Did he make any effort to find out who the guy was and if it was his boat that he was hooking up to and not some possible thief? Not that I saw...

 

[aczlan]

I tell ya i'd hate to be a cop right now. The cop sure had an attitude, but the camera guy could have said "good morning, is something going on" and then taken his hand out of his pocket and said "looked like something was going on" and no issue. There is more to this story. But by no means did the cop handle it well.

I agree. It also wouldn't surprise me if it was posted largely to drive traffic to the camera guys store and channels (note the "Help Me reach 2K subscribers..& GET 20 LIKES ON THIS VIDEO & Share twitch_tv/********** follow me on twitter ********** skype is ********* ****************** Use promo code ****** for 10% off your order!")

Aaron Z

 

[rmk700]

The guy was suspicious acting and the officer was doing his job by checking it out and he had a hand in pocket that was a concern and he wouldn't remove so the officer got his gun ready to defend himself.

Trusting anyone or anything can get you killed. Well done officer for doing your job and you get to go home to your family alive!

 

[aczlan]

The guy was suspicious acting and the officer was doing his job by checking it out and he had a hand in pocket that was a concern and he wouldn't remove so the officer got his gun ready to defend himself.

Trusting anyone or anything can get you killed. Well done officer for doing your job and you get to go home to your family alive!

I don't have a problem with what the officer did, but he should have been a little more diplomatic about it.

Aaron Z

 

[newbury]

<snip> In my area right now police departments are continually understaffed due to officers quitting and lack of new recruits. For the first time in my memory departments have paid for and are airing recruitment personnel. When I retired people were being hired and promoted who would not have gotten past the initial screening a few years earlier and it's just getting worse..

That is part of the problem. People not qualified to be cops are.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Agree. I looked up Rohnert cop video and there are many links to more on the story. I do think the guy should have pulled his hand out of his pocket just to confirm he had nothing before suggesting the cop to take a hike. The cop was placed on temp. paid leave.

Calif. cop pulls gun on man recording video of him - NY Daily News

Exactly.

We know the cop didn't think he was in danger because:

1) He took the time to check plates and call dispatch about the truck hooking up to a boat in a driveway, discuss the video guy, then inform dispatch he was dismounting.

2) He fiddled around taking his own picture of the guy videoing the patrol unit with what appears to be a personal phone. Remember the police office is still somewhat concealed in the patrol unit. Having confirmed the truck belonged to the address with dispatch, rather than dismounting, at this point the police officer should have smiled and waved and moved on.

3) After drawing his gun, the police officer shares his speculation of the video guy being "some kind of constitutionalist," which even if true, is not grounds to dismount and escalate.

4) When the video guy did pull his left hand out of his pocket and point at the officer, the officer, grasped his weapon with both hands in response ready to lay down multiple aimed rounds if necessary (I was happy to note the police officer didn't appear to curl his finger on the trigger, a thing that many people do without even knowing it when under stress).

5) The cop was clearly not interested in a meander stop when he informed the video guy that the video guy couldn't remain on his own driveway or lawn and could go in, but not stay where he was. Huh? The guy is hooking his truck up to his own boat on his own driveway. We believe the cop already identified the residence of the video guy when speaking to dispatch, so what was the point of dismounting then? At that point we learn that the police officer is only concerned about being on video, which isn't probable cause and a real chicken s it move on his part.

The fact that some aren't thinking through what took place in the context that it took place and in the context of our laws and procedures is disheartening.