Video Journalist Joe Anybody Has Camera Taken By Police

on the funds you get when they settle -quickly and quietly, I'll wager- the civil suit.

Illegitemi Non Carborundum!
(Dont let the bastards wear ya down!)

I'm glad this was forwarded to me. The lack of institutional memory in Portland and the Portland Police Bureau is astounding. (It appears they're going after you for "interception of communication.")

For those with good memories I went through a similar scenario with the Portland Police way back in the fall of 1991 as a video-grapher before I became a lawyer. (Where does the time go!) I ended up getting a lawyer involved. We got a nice letter back from then Police Chief, now Mayor, Tom Potter with a revised policy telling me what I was doing was entirely legal.

Pack rat that I am, I still got it, and with luck it'll publish.

Folks want to see what I've been up check out my websites olympicpeninsulalaw.com and richmond4congress.com.

I'm glad someone forwarded this to me. Potter, while Police Chief, sent me a letter on or about September 12, 1991, stating this was legal.

I sent him the following letter:

Re: Legality of Videotaping in Portland

Dear Mayor Potter,

First let me say I have not had the opportunity to congratulate you on your election, so formally: congratulations.

It was recently brought to my attention that a videographer in Portland was stopped by police, their camera taken, for the simple act of videotaping police arresting someone on Portland's streets. It has been posted to the web at www.indymedia.org/en/2008/03/373979.shtml.

I believe we first came in contact with each other in 1991 when a similar thing happened to me. Your response as Portland's Police Chief appeared an enlightened one. You wrote:

"In light of recent widespread availability of video technology, a second look at Portland Police Bureau policy is appropriate. "

You concluded your letter noting:

"The citizens of Portland are the Bureau's 'customers' and it is our goal to protect the rights and protections of each citizen."

Attached to the letter was a copy of what was titled "TRAINING BULLETIN - VIDEOTAPING POLICE ACTION." It read:

"... exceptions to the application of ORS 165.540(1)(c) are found in ORS 165.540(7). One of the exceptions includes audio taping of "events." In most circumstances, during an arrest the actions of police officer(s) and suspect(s) may be both video and audio taped. Also, as there can be limited expectations of privacy on the street or in a public place, video and audio taping police actions in making arrests, does not violate ORS 165.543, which prohibits some interception of communication."

I am presuming under your leadership, Portland has maintained this enlightened policy, but would appreciate if you could formally clarify this.

As a second matter, I also wanted to inform you that I have recently announced my candidacy for elected office in Washington. As you yourself ran successfully as a populist against an opponent with much special interest money, I would appreciate your considering me for endorsement, knowing my history of working to keep government honest.

You may find out more about my candidacy at www.richmond4congress.com.

Thank you in advance for your consideration on both these matters.

Yours truly,


Paul Richmond, Esq.
Candidate for Congress in the 6th District of Washington.

cc:
Mayor Tom Potter
File

bcc:

Attachments:
Letter from PPB Chief Tim Potter of 9.12.1991

Any possibility that someone there can take the copies posted, and make them large enough for the rest of us to read?

I really appreciate all the work you do Joe. I don't live in Portland anymore, but when something happens it seems like you are always there to capture it and promptly post it. Thanks for all you do. Fight the good fight.

And has been virtually useless for the past several months (works briefly, but mostly doesn't). Apparently IMC is at a loss, and have been mute on the topic (e.g., no enlightenment on the nature of the problem or what might be expected by way of restoration).

Paul Richman: Can you post the Potter letter you downloaded to IMCPDX as part of your reply on this article thread to one of your own web sites, so we can read it? Thank you.

That guy who stole your camera (for a while) committed an assault - pushing the man he wanted to ID - by stepping toward him, then pushing him "away" from him. In his report, if he wrote one, I'm sure he cites "safety concerns." But he walked a step closer, said something challenging, and pushed the man to try to get him to react. The guy did not "bite" the bait. The cop gave you back evidence of HIM committing a crime! And I'd bet his cop buddy's spittle isn't legally supposed to be on the sidewalk, either - so you got two blues committing crimes. Nice! You should sue for intimidation and theft. Even temporary taking without legal cause is theft. Especially since he was armed.

That guy who stole your camera (for a while) committed an assault - pushing the man he wanted to ID - by stepping toward him, then pushing him "away" from him. In his report, if he wrote one, I'm sure he cites "safety concerns." But he walked a step closer, said something challenging, and pushed the man to try to get him to react. The guy did not "bite" the bait. The cop gave you back evidence of HIM committing a crime! And I'd bet his cop buddy's spittle isn't legally supposed to be on the sidewalk, either - so you got two blues committing crimes. Nice! You should sue for intimidation and theft. Even temporary taking without legal cause is theft. Especially since he was armed.

If they viewed my tape would that be consider a violation of the 4th amendment for invading my privacy of my person, papers, and possession.

Seems to me that my tape was my property even though they took it from me, and was not viewed with my permission. (if in fact they did watch it)

hmmmmm (note to self)
I better ask my lawyer about that part

Only once did I ever get my property back from police. What worked for me was, I sent a notice of intent to sue, not to the PPB, the city or the detective who took my stuff---I sent it to his precinct captain, who, as a member of PPB is obligated to take action, meaning that that detective's superior had to deliver it to him, and an IAD investigation was opened, as per policy.

In short, I got a call from IAD, and went to pick up my stuff a couple of days later. The only time I wasted was on playing round-robin with the DA, the PPB detective and the property room, none of which claimed they could release my property without the say-so of somebody else, etc...

I guess it was expedient to cut out all of the "middle-men", grabbing the guilty bull by the...

Having worked over 20 yrs at WFMY-TV News in Greensboro, NC where the ANTI-Klan/Nazi killings happened ( shot the video still being shown worldwide). I had more than my share of confrontations with cops. When I was called to testify in three major murder trials the cops rigged phony parking tickets and arrested me to keep me from testifying.. the US Fed. Judge was not pleased with that action. In one weird case a Sgt. made me go behind a crowd of people gathered on a street corner .. saying he'd arrest me and confiscate my $48.000 Video Camera if I walked up to the front row. So.. I just called the TV Station.. two other news photographers and reporters arrived to continue the coverage.. the News Director called the Chief of Police and said a Live Truck was on the way to cover the Police State actions. The Sgt. continued to scream at me.. but he knew from my years on the job that I would never back down.. plus that TV News Camera and more than 30 witnesses were too much for that coward. Now to confront Portland's Cop Terrorists...! When we ran my orginal footage that night we found out I was innocent. Yet.. no one with the city ever called the cops on the carpet. it was in essence swept under the rug. Then again .. I caught the cops leading the KKK/Nazi's to the anti Klan rally where 5 were killed and 12 injured. I testified against the cops, FBI and ATF.

All I can say is the cops in Portland are the worst I've seen in the world. I've been in two major wars.. been to third world countries.. in Central America, El Salvador, Panama, Op. Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom.. and the Balkans. In Russia before the change.. had KGB watching me yet never have I been treated as bad as I have in Portland.

The cops need to be arrested and sent to prison. In fact a citizens force must be formed... just imagine if we had 20,000 people ready to respond to counter illegal Cop Terrorist Actions.. what a change that would be. If the people . the citizens responded in force.. no firearms or weapons just by our presence, with hundreds of cameras.. marching on the cops.. pushing them back to their little foxholes of cowardice. Time to stand up for real freedom. Bring the troops home from Iraq to fight against the cop terrorists here in our own land!

Jim Waters

Sixpack
I like how that worked when you supersede the middle ground.
I was headed to the station to contact their boss ...they supersede that and I got it back (plus a ticket?)

Jim
Interesting, informative, passionate, comment.
Thanks.
I am hoping the obvious justice will prevail in my situation
And I am hoping that this type of intimidation / suppression will cease
I haven't been around the world so I don't have a lot to compare to, other than what I read or hear about from the typical sources.
It would be great to see more people using video cameras for peace, justice, truth, solidarity support and Independent Media.

It could make "change"

Thanks for standing up for what is right as you did in NC <for example>
I am empowered by the idea of solidarity for civil and human right, that entail honest "media"
The camera is a great tool and speaks for truth

This ain't photo shop
Freedom of the press!

Joe..
I wonder if a group of people with a background in News gathering.. that counts you for your work over the years.. those like myself with a history and background in TV News Gathering. Plus.. there are groups like Current TV.. create an ID with their logo on it with the title of News Videographer under your name and a small Photo. Wear this around your neck.. Al Gore is part of the Current TV group.
I know the local TV stations have sold out..as have all tv stations which is why I'd never work for one again.

We just need to have a small group .. we can train people in Newsgathering.. bring in hopefully ACLU Atty's for advice.. to run perhaps a short class in our rights and responsibilities. SO often it's just about commonsense. Now.. one reason why a Video camera has a zoom lens is so we can stand off as you did and videotape. Also.. if you're far enough off how can you clearly pick up a cops words. However.. I can in no way see how by videotaping on a city street. .a public area you can be charged with a crime.. or your camera taken from you.
I must tell you that when as a TV news Videographer in NC I ran into a lot of redneck cops who thought they owned the streets ..etc. Many times they'd try to take my tapes.. my camera.. I of course had the Marked News Car.. a radio or cell phone to get in touch with the news room to get the lawyer to initiate a call to a senior officer..etc. Most often I'd just use my own experience and not back down no matter what. Yet.. I made sure not to be a threat. These cops nowdays love to use any excuse to use a taser, bean bag..pepper spray.. and or shoot first then just piss on the body.. yours or mine.

We're facing a real war hear. We talk about the terrorists as being in the middle east. in Afghanistan and Iraq.. in fact the real American Terrorists are our own Portland Police . As for me I view any cop I see as a terrorist just as I saw the IRA Provos..the Protestant UDA UVF groups. I managed to kill 5 IRA provos for killing my fiance and unborn child. Took a few years but I was part of a group that went after those terrorists. I do regret the circumstances that led me to kill those terrorists.. but there are times when force is a must to stop terrorism. We can talk peace, talk about being wimpy actions.. there comes a time when force must be met with ultimate force. I can only hope the cops will face true terrorists in this area. that the cops will finally face foreign terrorism right here ..then we'll see how they like it ! NO.. Bombs are never nice.. I can attest to that. I still have pain from shrapnel.. since 1970 in my body.. I've seen three wars. .and pray innocent citizens never face such actions...However I do pray cops in Portland will face their own personal hell on earth. They can push people for only so long.. how that action happens is not something we should voice just yet!

Let me assure you we all, there will come a time when the public will need to rise up and face the cops face to face,right here in Portland. We must begin to plan.. to form a massive number of people who can by force of shear numbers alone force the cops to lay down their weapons and stop their crimes against the community. WE have freedom of speech and can march to protect ourselves and community. It is time for as our founding fathers called saoid..... "Time to shake the tree of liberty". A revolution is brewing.. people like that squat arrogant bully who pushed that man on the street and demanded your camera has no business of being allowed to carry a gun or even to be a cop. He must be arrested for assault, uttering threats. he must be sent to prison.. and kept there for the safety of the public. I also hope we can soon arrest Rosie and send her to prison for fostering an police force where terror tactics are the order of the day.

J.W.

Eric Carlson and Joan Wagar, A,K,A, Doubleclick and Mrs Dash,( yes those are there nicknames they gave each other.) admitted to poisoning me while I was a plasma donor back in 2005.
Eric Carlson pedofied me behind prison walls and then framed me as a pedophile on march 26th 2007, I caught the crime on a audio recorder I put in Joan's purse.
there were people in authority helping them with this and nobody in authority will help they pretend nothing happened and refuse to investigate this.
Eric Carlson changed his hair color and his name but this is not hidden, only ignored by the authority's and media
I'm disabled from being poisoned and the hospitals refuse to admit I'm poisoned.
My Family is in danger from these people and I have no other recorse but to make these charges public.
My name is Terry Wagar,Im from Portland Oregon and I'm backing up these charges.
I have been threatened with harassment charges by a Sargent Walker, She is a portland police officer stationed at the OHSU hospital, for the non crime of reporting a multi murder conspiracy within that hospital.
They don't give a s4!t Joan and Eric was poisoning a plasma donor!
Why don't you give A s4!t Portland Authority's, its already reported.
Where did Mrs Dash keep her stash?
In A garlic salt shaker, nuff said!

 http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2008/11/382778.shtml