Maybe the DCPD should read this.......

[Steve in PA]

http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issu...tander-policy/

Seattle police to issue new bystander policy


By Scott Guiterrez
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

SEATTLE — The Seattle Police Department this week plans to issue a new policy clarifying when bystanders are within their rights to observe and document officer conduct and when they're interfering with officers' law enforcement duties, a department official told the City Council's Public Safety Committee during a briefing Tuesday.

The new policy clearly reminds officers that bystanders have a right to watch or film officers making an arrest, as long as they don't interfere or threaten their safety, said Kathryn Olson, civilian director of the department's Office of Professional Accountability, which investigates allegations of police misconduct.


The policy follows a settlement last year in which the city paid $8,000 to a photographer who was unlawfully arrested for taking pictures of two officers arresting a suspect downtown.

Officers already are trained that the public is entitled to observe their conduct but a number of complaints in the past few years have stemmed from confrontations between officers and bystanders gathering around an incident. In one case in November 2006, Bogdan Mohora, an amateur photographer, was arrested after he took photos of officers making an arrest and refused to hand over his camera.

No charges were filed and Mohora settled a legal claim against the city last year.

The policy is intended to clarify when bystanders' behavior is considered threatening or unlawful, such as when they move too close or step into a scene, Olson said. It also emphasizes that police can't simply seize someone's camera for video evidence without cause or court order and suggests alternative means of negotiating with the witness.

Pieces of the new directive previously existed in other department regulations and weren't as clear, Olson said. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented Mohora, worked with the department in crafting the policy.

[CCinPA]

http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issu...tander-policy/

Seattle police to issue new bystander policy


By Scott Guiterrez
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

SEATTLE — The Seattle Police Department this week plans to issue a new policy clarifying when bystanders are within their rights to observe and document officer conduct and when they're interfering with officers' law enforcement duties, a department official told the City Council's Public Safety Committee during a briefing Tuesday.

The new policy clearly reminds officers that bystanders have a right to watch or film officers making an arrest, as long as they don't interfere or threaten their safety, said Kathryn Olson, civilian director of the department's Office of Professional Accountability, which investigates allegations of police misconduct.


The policy follows a settlement last year in which the city paid $8,000 to a photographer who was unlawfully arrested for taking pictures of two officers arresting a suspect downtown.

Officers already are trained that the public is entitled to observe their conduct but a number of complaints in the past few years have stemmed from confrontations between officers and bystanders gathering around an incident. In one case in November 2006, Bogdan Mohora, an amateur photographer, was arrested after he took photos of officers making an arrest and refused to hand over his camera.

No charges were filed and Mohora settled a legal claim against the city last year.

The policy is intended to clarify when bystanders' behavior is considered threatening or unlawful, such as when they move too close or step into a scene, Olson said. It also emphasizes that police can't simply seize someone's camera for video evidence without cause or court order and suggests alternative means of negotiating with the witness.

Pieces of the new directive previously existed in other department regulations and weren't as clear, Olson said. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented Mohora, worked with the department in crafting the policy.

It is unfortunate but the Dickson City Police Department is too arrogant to comply with what is lawful because even their own Chief and Borough Council have this idea that "they make the laws" and the police further bulstered to continue unlawful conduct with full support of the chief and Borough Council.

It is sad there are rouge communities like DC still within the boundaries of this fine state, but there are and it usually seems the only time rogue communities start to play somewhat fair is when they start paying out money for their bad actions. I hope the Dickson City tax payers understand where their tax dollars will be going when it hits the fan because they elected this Borough Council who so steadfastly stands behind the illegal actions in full support of their PD.

[ChamberedRound]

I hope the Dickson City tax payers understand where their tax dollars will be going when it hits the fan because they elected this Borough Council who so steadfastly stands behind the illegal actions in full support of their PD.

More importantly, I hope these citizens have the presence of mind to clean house in the City Council and the DCPD, and replace them with people that know the law and abide by it rather than try to dictate it. Today it may have been "those crazy gun people" whose rights were violated by the DCPD's assumption that they embody the law, tomorrow it could be them, for any reason.