I know when I originally posted about Friday’s Finest (FF), I had the intention of doing it on a weekly basis. This hasn’t worked out, but I hope that it’ll be a weekly feature in the future. As stated in the introductory post about FF:
Friday’s Finest will consist of us (Cop Block) highlighting videos and pictures that supporters send in exclusively to Cop Block (via email or our Facebook Page). We hope that it will grow, depending on submissions, allowing us to offer rewards for the best videos/pics. Some of these rewards could be books, clothing or cold hard cash. This is an idea focused on providing incentive to people to film police actions.
Until we’re overwhelmed with submissions we’ll highlight every one sent to us. After Friday’s Finest takes off we’ll then set guidelines as to what qualifies for the rewards program. We hope that others will feed off of this idea and form a support base for those who film police officers. Whether that be by sharing Friday’s Finest with your friends or calling the stations highlighted on FF, whatever you can do.
That’s pretty much the idea: to encourage people to record police actions whenever they can. From now on, Friday’s Finest will be a monthly post until I’m more settled in and we get more submissions. This month, I’m choosing to write about those who’ve taken pictures of police doing nothing illegal (okay, maybe one is). To me, it’s just as important to film (or photograph) police doing their daily functions even if they’re not engaged illegal activity. Not only because you never know when something might happen, but also because it’s your right. When we don’t use our rights, we lose them. Plain and simple.
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This picture (left) was sent to Cop Block from a supporter in Nashville, TN of a Rutherford County Sheriff parking illegally. The person stated that every day (or just about, they witness this officer parked this way while out for a walk. A perfect example of how simple it can be to photograph police wrongdoings. Maybe this person can take a few more pics and Cop Block can do a call flood for accountability.
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Then there is this picture which was posted on Cop Block’s Facebook page by Matt N with the following message:
This is an almost every day occurrence in Batesville. An officer told me they do this ‘to keep people safe because a lot of drivers run the red light at this intersection’, but I think its more likely to make it dangerous due to people slamming on their brakes in rush hour traffic as they spot the cop
Right on Matt. Keep taking pictures even if the officer isn’t breaking the law. It still shows them your commitment to holding them accountable. People (police included) should be able understand and respect that.
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Last but not least is a picture (below) sent to Cop Block via Twitter just yesterday. It’s of a SWAT team running on the street and was sent to Cop Block by SpacyT who said, “I was almost late to work cause of it.” I wonder if anyone in the Hollywood Beach area (FL) knows if it’s illegal for a group of people to jog in the road.
Thanks to those who sent in pics the past few weeks. I hope next month we can have double the submissions, so tell your friends. Or better yet, have those cell phones and cameras ready and send in some videos and pictures yourself. Together we can make filming the police the norm and start and encourage accountable policing practices.
Good pics! Maybe Cop Block should add a tab that has ready-made print-outs for folks to use? Perhaps the person that snapped the pic in Nashville could then put a flyer under the windshield wipers of the cop car that details how people with badges have no extra rights etc.
Also, re: the last picture on this post by SpacyT – what about those cops riding on the roof of the vehicle!? I’d bet real money that I’d be pulled over if I had a few folks riding on top of my van while cruising down the street.