Judge Restricts New York Police Surveillance

Discover the Networks ^ | Feb. 16th, 2007 | Jim Dwyer

[Rodney Kings Brain]

Judge Restricts New York Police Surveillance By JIM DWYER In a rebuke of a surveillance practice greatly expanded by the New York Police Department after the Sept. 11 attacks, a federal judge ruled today that the police must stop the routine videotaping of people at public gatherings unless there was an indication that unlawful activity may occur.

Nearly four years ago, at the request of New York City, the same judge, Charles S. Haight Jr., had given the police greater authority to investigate political, social and religious groups.

In today’s ruling, however, Judge Haight of Federal District Court in Manhattan found that by videotaping people who were exercising their right to free speech and breaking no laws, the Police Department had ignored the milder limits he had imposed on it in 2003.

Citing two events in 2005 — a march in Harlem and a demonstration by homeless people in front of the Upper East Side home of Mayor Michael Bloomberg — the judge said the city offered scant justification for videotaping the people involved.

[drpix]

It will not cut both ways. The leftist running the court system never have problems with leftist police actions. (ex.: Clintonista actions in the Waco & Elian Gonzalez cases)

[webstersII]

"It will not cut both ways. The leftist running the court system never have problems with leftist police actions. (ex.: Clintonista actions in the Waco & Elian Gonzalez cases)"

That's exactly my point. If there are corrupt people in authority then they can abuse something like the ability to videotape people.

The only way to keep the abuse from happening is to keep the authorities from doing it no matter who is in power.