Show me a case of a police officer who was killed by an iPod and I will change my mind.
Of course, police can take reasonable precautions, but he took unreasonable precautions. Actually, his claim that he was taking “precautions” seems totally disingenuous. He clearly wasn't afraid of the woman, he just used that as an excuse to try to order her into her home, so she couldn't video tape him. His only “fear” was the fear of being held accountable for his actions.
There were at least 2 other officers dealing with the one suspect from the traffic stop, and the man they pulled over was presenting no resistance at all. He could have asked one of his fellow officers to keep an eye on her, if he was truly concerned.
If he truly was afraid of a woman with an iPod, standing on her own property, then this officer is so timid and cowardly, that he ought to take up a less stressful profession, like flower arranging or interior decorating.
Also, the incompetent bully turned his back on the real suspect to go after the innocent citizen, exercising her rights, on her own property.
I am very, pro law enforcement, but idiots like this guy have no place in law enforcement and good cops unfairly get bad reputations because of foolish bullies like him.
And, at the point in which the woman was placed under arrest, handcuffed, and removed to one of the patrol vehicles is the point in which the video taping ended, right?
Oh, wait. Someone who was with the woman, who had been either inside the house or standing closer to the house, took the video recording instrument, and continued videoing the incident. So, because the officer was only concerned about being videotaped, he then also arrested this individual, right?
Oh, wait. No. The videotaping continued even after the officer's left the scene. So, it's quite obvious that the only reason the officer arrested the woman was because she was videotaping the traffic stop./s
Oh, the rationalizing that has taken place to villianize the police in this incident.
Your screen name is apropoe. Did you NOT see the officer take the suspect to the patrol vehicle and hand the suspect off to another officer BEFORE he went to "confront" the "innocent" woman???