On the contrary, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a de-escalation tactic for dealing with stalkers.

If you watch the video (which is available in the previous article and all over social media, contrary to the narrative) it’s clear that the person is trying to get a rise out of the police officers by following them around and badgering them for content on his social media channels. He even went so far as to watermark the video with his social media handles. It’s clear that the officers are tired of dealing with him and being followed around while trying to do their jobs.

I totally agree with you. There are lots of people that do this to EMS as well. Fortunately, I have HIPPA to get these people away from scenes. Unfortunately, there are a ton of people that have nothing better to do than film/jibe/harangue police and fire/EMS in the course of their duties. We know a lot of them on a first name basis including bday, medical history and how many times we have given them narcan... as we often find them with needles in their arms overdosed.

> Fortunately, I have HIPPA to get these people away from scenes.

HIPAA, and you don't. (I'm sure the claim works on people, though.)

https://www.ems1.com/ems-products/cameras-video/articles/pho...

> Your basic HIPAA obligation when it comes to the press is very simple. Don't divulge any patient medical information to a journalist. Don’t discuss patient specifics within hearing or recording distance, at least not in great detail. Don’t write notes where they can be read. If you have a clipboard with medical information, turn it over so it can’t be seen in a photograph.

> Your HIPAA obligation does not, however, require you to stop me or others from taking images at the scene.

Can you keep them at a somewhat reasonable distance? Yes. Out of the scene entirely? Generally no, barring a hazmat incident or something where you'd need to be getting out too.

Journalists and provocateur's have nothing in common. Journalists, in my experience, are very easy to work with. They understand and appreciate the stress of the situations first responders deal with 24/7 and are keen to keep their jobs generally. That is, filming and then posting someone bleeding out to Instagram is a quick way to get sued. Journalists, in my experience have a common sense of decency that provocateur's lack. There is a massive gap between professionals working a scene and bystanders provoking first responders to get likes.

That you like some of the people exercising their First Amendment rights more than others is irrelevant.

Ok buddy... not worth arguing anymore. Walk a mile in another persons shoes before you cast stones.

It would be a very dangerous precedent to deem this stalking.

From the videos (which have not been removed, despite what the headline suggests) it appears the person is following police officers around on the street, trying to provoke reactions while he films, and posting the videos with police names to his Instagram accounts where he sells anti-police merch.

I don’t condone the police behavior, but it’s clear that the person recording is not a hero or even blameless. He’s running a business that profits from anti-police sentiment and promoting it with these videos.

All of what you have described is entirely legal.

So what you are saying is, the police officer should start following that provocateur around on his day off with a camera? Film the guy who is filming the police officers! I like it!

No, that's a complete misunderstanding of the law on this.

If you antagonize and film a police officer while they are off-duty, that is inappropriate; potentially stalking and harassment. Same in the other direction. The courts have thus far determined there are specific rights to filming police while engaged in their duties; not just for press, but for citizens in general.

Filming: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glik_v._Cunniffe

Antagonizing: https://www.wired.com/2013/01/flipping-off-cop-case/

Do those "specific rights" include antagonizing a police officer while he/she is performing his or her official duties? I don't think the majority of society will agree with that, just my opinion. At the end of the day, we need to see a few cities that let their entire police force resign due to "woke" culture and watch what happens. People will vote with their feet and wallets.

The police don’t really need help defending themselves.

If they feel the least bit threatened, they can simply arrest someone who is “stalking” them.

That they are resorting to clever tactics like playing copyrighted music, shows that legally speaking they can’t do anything else.

How would it be dangerous?

I wouldn't have thought it'd require explanation.

"I am filming you, a public official, doing something bad in your official capacity."

"You are now under arrest for stalking."