After Pulling me Over, Brighton, NY Police officer Shows his Sense of Humor, when he Realizes who he Stopped

By Davy V.

Less than a week after posting a video of, and writing about Brighton, NY Police Chief Mark Henderson’s unprofessional conduct at an anti-abortion protest, I was pulled over by a Brighton Police officer.

As I was driving down Monroe Avenue near Highland Avenue, Brighton Police officer James Tumbiolo, who was driving in the opposite direction on Monroe Avenue, turned around in a driveway near Cobbs Hill Park, and proceeded to follow me.

Officer Tumbiolo, who was a couple of vehicles behind me, then sped up, crossing into the opposite lane of traffic on Highland Avenue, before crossing back into my lane, at which point he turned his lights on, pulling me over.

As you can see in the video below, officer Tumbiolo immediately lets out a laugh as soon as he approaches the vehicle, and sees who he just pulled over, before asking me “How’s it going?”

As I always do, I then inform officer Tumbiolo that I’m video recording, to which he replies “No problem.”

I then ask officer Tumbiolo why he stopped me, to which he replies that my rear brake lights were out.

I go on to tell officer Tumbiolo that after my incident with Chief Henderson, “I am making sure everything is on the up and up.”

Officer Tumbiolo then laughs before saying “I recognize you now.”

By officer Tumbiolo’s reaction as soon as he approached my vehicle, I don’t believe he intentionally targeted me, or knew who he was pulling over.

I truly think he was just doing his job.

Yes, I do think it’s a bit much to come after someone in the manner he did, for what is essentially an equipment violation, but I’m actually thankful he did, as I had no idea my car had no brake lights, as I was on vacation, and had not driven the vehicle in over a month.

Officer Tumbiolo is one example of the many professional, courteous police officers who work for the Brighton, NY Police department.

Not only was officer Tumbiolo professional, even after my advising him of my video recording, but he showed he has a sense of humor, as was evident by his laughter when he realized who he had pulled over.

And a good sense of humor, is nice, as it’s not something often seen in law enforcement officers.

After driving away, I went straight to my mechanic, who installed new light bulbs.

 

 

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Davy V.

Davy V. is a Cuban-American Filmmaker, Video Producer, Photographer and Freelance Writer, best known for using the power of video and film to expose Police Brutality, Corruption and Misconduct. The son of the late Mario Vara, a community activist who for years fought against Police Brutality and Misconduct in Rochester, New York, Davy V. got his start in Television and Video by tagging along and working camera for his father's cable access television show, "La Voz Del Pueblo" (The Voice of The People). Davy V. later went on to produce and host "KEEP IT ON THE REEL", a cable access TV show with a mix of Hip Hop as well as issues affecting African-Americans and Latinos in Rochester, NY, such as Police Brutality and Misconduct. Some guests on the show included Treach, KayGee and Vinnie of Naughty by Nature, Method Man, Funkdoobiest, Da Youngstas, and the Rottin' Razkals. Davy V. won the U.S. ACM Video Festival Award for his Documentary, "R.P.D. EXPOSED!" about the Rochester, New York Police Department and their long history of misconduct, corruption and unnecessary killings of unarmed innocent citizens. "R.P.D. EXPOSED!" and Davy V.'s follow up, "R.P.D.: Badges of DISHONOR, CORRUPTION and MURDER!" were both screened at the National Hip Hop Political Convention at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. Davy V.'s work has been featured in publications such as THE SOURCE Hip Hop Magazine, URBAN AMERICA Magazine, The Ave. Magazine, Insider Magazine, La Voz Newspaper, Minority Reporter Newspaper, CNY LATINO Newspaper, DOWN Magazine, as well as on television news stations, and programs such as CNN and Inside Edition. In addition to his freelance writing, Davy V. also writes a monthly Op/Ed Column for LA VOZ Magazine and Minority Reporter Newspaper. In June 2012, Davy V. joined Cop Block as a regular contributor.