Camera Shy Cops?

I’ve written about this topic at least once before, but maybe it bears repeating. The public has a First Amendment right to photograph or video police activity. That would include a traffic stop. But police in Philadelphia may not get it. They arrested Ian Van Kuyk, a Temple University photojournalism student for taking their picture while they were engaged in a traffic stop outside his house. Now, I am not one to rush to judgment, and there may be more to the story. But perhaps the Philly cops and their lawyers should take a look at this link. Las Vegas police, who roughed a camera man for doing pretty much what Van Kuyk did, settled the case by paying $100,000. I suspect that most police would prefer not to be photographed in action, but thanks to the First Amendment, they really need to simply grin and bear it.