One More Reason Cops Don't Like Cameras: Sometimes They Get Caught Having Sex in Uniform

Just yesterday I blogged a strong piece by Glenn "Instapundit" Reynolds on why it's legal and good for citizens to film the police. While good cops welcome the surveillance of their behavior and activities, bad cops and other law enforcement officers don't.

Here's one more story to add to the pile of why cops might worry about having cameras trained on them along with criminals:

Video camera set up to nab graffiti vandals tapes cop having sex

A surveillance camera set up by Santa Fe County to catch graffiti vandals on public property instead recorded footage of a uniformed New Mexico state police officer apparently having sex with a woman.

The sheriff's office confirms the video was taken on county land at the Santa Fe Canyon Ranch, a 470-acre spread that includes a 7,800-square-foot mansion, guest quarters, a foreman's residence, swimming pool, tennis courts, a barn, corrals and a lake….

Sheriff Robert Garcia says that although nothing illegal appeared to be going on in the pictures, they seemed to depict "inappropriate" activity, the Journal reports.

When the Journal broke the news of the incident this month, here was Garcia's initial response: "I'm glad it was not one of my deputies."

More here.

College student Jerome Vorus got hassled by cops for photographing them during a traffic stop in Washington, D.C. Take a look:

Reason on the illegal and ill-conceived War on Cameras.

Comments

[wylie]

Chicks/Gaydudes love a man in uniform. Nothing is ever going to change that.

Oh, yeah.

[BakedPenguin]

I always thought that was just a Village People stereotype, but a gay friend at the insurance company I work for started dating a cop, and admitted it was a turn-on for him.

However, he said the cop knew it was a big deal, and was a little too in love with himself.

[Libertymike]

It just goes to show you how warped tax feeders can be. Here's a guy in the public sector, subsisting upon that which his brethern forcibly extract from others, unable to flourish in the private sector, thinking he's all that.

That's warped.

[Better explanations]

"While good cops welcome the surveillance of their behavior and activities, bad cops and other law enforcement officers don't."

If we start labeling cops who get caught in understandable lapses of judgment "bad cops" then, well, I think it lets the bad cops off too easily.

[Mensan]

If they don't qualify as "bad cops", then I think the "cops who get caught in understandable lapses of judgment" would be covered under the "other law enforcement officers" category.

[GSL]

Let's not forget: there are still some instances where cops are more than willing to go on camera.

[Karl Hungus]

I say we commend the officer on his choice of instrument; after all, it could've been his taser or his pistol.

[Libertymike]

"while good cops welcome the surveillance of their behavior...."

Which cops so welcome such surveillance? Is there some list, available on-line, of cops who unambiguously, without qualification, champion such surveillance?

I'd like to see some empirical support.

[Mensan]

FWIW, dunphy regularly declares that he welcomes being recorded.

[Fraternal Order of Police]

Let us not rush to judgment against this officer - we need to carefully review the relevant evidence, especially the video. Carefully review it, frame by frame, just like I'm doing now. Let me get back to you.

[Mo]

Sheriff Robert Garcia says that although nothing illegal appeared to be going on in the pictures, they seemed to depict "inappropriate" activity, the Journal reports.

They don't have indecent exposure laws in New Mexico?

[Official Police Record]

The officer in question approached the suspect in order to question them. At this time, his hands were firmly on the safety of his belt buckle. The suspect, armed with large tits, approached the officer. Sensing his life was immediately in danger, the officer removed his safety. Pants were dropped. Fellatio was performed. Doggystyle was completed. Pop shots were fired. Hive fives were given when he got back to the precinct.

After further investigation, he officer will be considered for promotion for showing great care restraining his force continuum.

[daveInAustin]

Did the county need a search warrant to put up the surveillance camera? If they don't, then nobody should have an expectation of privacy when on county land.

[anarch]

How do police-car dashcam videos - especially the ones revealing police misconduct - end up on youtube? Who is uploading them there? Moles in the police departments? I can't imagine police departments think it's good publicity.

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

Nothing illegal going on? Having sex in public, on public property, is not illegal?

[J Mann]

Wait - does Santa Fe County own "Santa Fe Canyon Ranch, a 470-acre spread that includes a 7,800-square-foot mansion, guest quarters, a foreman's residence, swimming pool, tennis courts, a barn, corrals and a lake?"

If so, why?

[Kwix]

Yeah, I just looked that up too. The answer is, they don't know either but they spent $7M to purchase it.

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/l.....-7-million

[MCab]

Dammit, McNulty.

[Andrew]

Here's KOB's story with a blurred still picture. The trooper (2009 NM State Police District 1 Officer of the Year) has already been fired .