Though this whole thread seems to go in tangent, I truly believe that a large portion of the cultural difference between police here and in the US is based on applicant screening and training. A prime example of this is the taser/firearm mix up. I can almost guarantee that he had both weapons on his dominant side and mixed them up in the heat of the moment. This is why any reputable police force should teach having a cross draw for the taser, an exaggerated action to distinguish the difference.
Secondly, in regards to taking video, I think its often seen as the "boogeyman" because you'll get filmed a hundred times which are totally fine but you'll only see the one that looks bad go viral. There's no issue in asking the person to stop but personally, obviously don't expect the personally comply. However, if they captured any part of the offense or can be used as evidence, the grounds are there to seize the phone for evidence without warrant as it is in plain view. Obviously it can be a powderkeg at that point and just another thing to set the situation off and have people questioning even more.
Finally, any use of force looks bad. No one likes seeing someone else having to use brute force and people have this natural reaction of being disgusted by it. However, there are times its warranted, necessary, and absolutely required in the context of the situation. Unfortunately, these videos can often lack or skew the context. I'm not saying in any of these particular videos posted recently, but more of a global thought.
|