FirstFreedom
Moderator
My point is that you don't need a hokey camera, or an agenda, nor do you need to fear a cop with an agenda.
I don't think you could possibly be more wrong, Tourist. This kind of thing (cops lying, deceiving, making up charges) goes on constantly, every day, every where, and always has, from time immemorial.
The ONLY thing that caused this guy to not be just another punk breaking the law and resisting arrest (allegedly) is the VIDEO and AUDIO recording. Othewise, it's he-said, he-said, and the law will always favor those in power, absent proof to the contrary. And if he didn't have an off-site linkage, then likely the footage (tape) would have been confiscated and never seen again. In fact, there is a statement made by this officer quite clearly and explicitly, which is NOT in the transcript, where he says (paraphrasing) "I don't care about your cameras because we're gonna tow your car to the station and tear them apart."
There are many many good cops. There are also many for whom "contempt of cop" without a single thing more, will get you taken to jail, and contempt of cop can be nothing more than the TONE of your voice when you say:
"Really? What was that?" to an allegation of a moving violation.
The cop had a camera in is patrol car and was wearing a microphone. How, exactly, was he going to make up any charges against the guy? Even if the guy didn't have his own camera, the incident was taped.
That's easy. By the time the victim sues and subpoenas the tape, the departments reply will be something to the effect of "we don't have that anymore; it's on a loop and we tape over it if there's nothing noteworthy which happened" - meaning noteworthy to THEM - meaning if it helps THEM, sure they'll keep a copy; if it's detrimental to them, it's gonna disappear.