Posted on 08/05/2015 9:57:09 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
Remember the Santa Ana, California, cops who were caught on video munching on what seem to be cannabis-infused chocolate bars after raiding an unlicensed medical marijuana dispensary in May? The Orange County Register reports that three officers who were suspended after the incident are trying to stop the Santa Ana Police Department from using the footage in its internal investigation. Among other things, their lawsuit argues that the officers thought they had disabled all of the security cameras at Sky High Holistic and therefore had a reasonable expectation of privacy. The cops complain that the dispensary never got their permission to record them as they searched the premises.
"All police personnel present had a reasonable expectation that their conversations were no longer being recorded and the undercover officers, feeling that they were safe to do so, removed their masks," says the complaint, which was filed in Orange County Superior Court. "Without the illegal recordings, there would have been no internal investigation of any officer." Under California law, "all parties to a confidential communication" must consent to being recorded, but that rule does not apply when "the parties to the communication may reasonably expect that the communication may be overheard or recorded."
In an interview with the Register, Sky High's lawyer, Matthew Pappas, noted that police routinely use surveillance camera video against suspects. "It's pretty pathetic for police to say if we don't like something that it can't be used as evidence," he said. "They knew they were on video....Just because they missed one camera doesn’t make it illegal."
Who to root for here? I'm so confused.
If anyone knows about violations of privacy. . . Don’t police have to take a urinalysis periodically or is that also a violation of privacy? If so, how can they pass if they are eating this stuff?
Totally lame reasoning. Book ‘em, Dano.
HA!
Police officers, while acting as public servants in commission of their duties, NEVER have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Their actions are, by their nature, a matter of public interest.
Pot Ping List!
Let me know if you want on or off.
Suspended? Shouldn’t it be fired? Law enforcement means enforcing the law, not thinking it’s okay to break it because you’re law enforcement. Those numb-nuts need to be fired and to spend time with some of the people they’ve met during their work as police officers, who might not like them so much!
This is satire, right?
It’s on par with Planned Parenthood supporters on MSM outlets screaming that non disclosure agreements (NDA) protect conversations at the convention. If PP actions are illegal, can they hide behind corporate law? Can the mafia use NDA’s to shield their operations?
I've seen video of Revenuers busting up an illegal still that had a dead raccoon floating in it.
“If so, how can they pass if they are eating this stuff?”
With a wink and twenty bucks.
Who to root for here?
I'll root against the ones who are sworn and paid to uphold the law.
The dopers will never come after me, but rouge cops might.
They have no expectation of privacy in that situation
Gives it that extra body.
That raccoon died happy, and that’s the important thing.
Absurd. Privacy issue aside, it’s NOT okay to A) destroy evidence, B) abuse controlled substances on the job.
Idiots always have their excuse machines working overtime whenever they get caught doing something unlawful / inappropriate.
Fixed it.
These cops are ALL apparently graduates of the LIBERAL education system.
I’d go with the dispensary.
So these cops want to hide their illegal activities from their superiors and the public? What else is new?
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