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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
During Off-Hours, a Cop Apologized for How He Had Treated Me
Nic Coury, Photographer
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Monterey | CA | | Posted: 12:58 AM on 06.30.10 |
->> Today I got a tip from one of my co-workers (in sales) that "a bunch of cops were around the (nearby) lake with their guns drawn."
So I hop in my car as it's just down the street a ways and arrive on scene and there are two cops there, scoping out the area with what looks to be like they're searching for someone and they were also searching this guy's car as he sat on the curb.
I snapped a few photos and was walking towards the cops—making sure they were not "in action"—and I go, "So what's going on here? Looking for someone it looks like?"
And this one guy goes, "I can't speak on it. Call Sgt. XXXX over at the station."
It went back and forth a bit as I tried to get something out of him, but to no avail.
I got what I could, mostly photos and left the scene and call the station from back at my desk.
Later this evening, after we published, I left the office and was wandering around downtown getting some frozen yogurt with a friend and suddenly someone goes, "Hey, excuse me."
Turns out it was the cop from earlier, also off work.
He apologized to me for being short and kinda angry, saying he's not like that at all, but their supervisor told them not to talk to reporters and direct them to the PIO a the department. He also said it was partly due to the situation were a parolee had jumped out of a car and tried to hide in the lake and it was just a weird situation.
I thanked him and said how I've dealt with similar situations and it's just the politics of our jobs sometimes. He seemed sincere about it, considering he pretty much found me on the street at night, which in itself was kind of funny.
I was a bit struck by the whole thing, which I guess just goes to show that not all cops are bad guys and just following orders sometimes.
~ nic |
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Robert Scheer, Photographer
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Indianapolis | IN | USA | Posted: 7:08 PM on 06.30.10 |
->> Great story, and a classy move by the cop. Hope he does well in his career.
FWIW, I'd never expect or even need such an apology, as it sounds like he wasn't overly rude at all. Nearly all the time, I find it a waste of time to ask "beat" cops for details, I get them from civilians and the PIO. |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 11:13 PM on 06.30.10 |
->> Nic, If you got as picture of that cop at the scene, print it out and give it to him.
--Mark |
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Chris Large, Photographer
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Okotoks | AB | Canada | Posted: 10:17 PM on 07.01.10 |
->> As a 20+ year police officer (retired) it is nice to see a thread that makes us out as humans. Police officers walk a incredibly hard line, balancing out an amazing number of issues and emotions based on what they see and deal with every day. Most people, including news shooters have not a clue with what we have to see with up close and way too personal every day.
It's easy to criticize the very few that go too far when dealing with the public, it's way better to remember that most of us do the best we can everyday and try to be human. Not easy but 99% do it.
Can it be said the all photo journalists, reporters, whatever are perfect?
Just my humble thoughts.
Chris |
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Alexander Pylyshyn, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Woodbridge | ON | Canada | Posted: 2:19 AM on 07.03.10 |
->> Agreed 100% Nic.
Being even within 30 minutes of Toronto (Newmarket suburb) has been a pain with the G20 recently passing. I've frequently had to bite my tongue when hearing some of the extremely negative and ridiculous things said about the Toronto Police in that time.
The father of a close friend of mine works with the police within homicide and some of the stories I've heard about his day to day life are pretty dark, and hell he was down there in T.O. for the G20 working the 6 PM - 6 AM night shift every day away from home. There's going to be a few bad apples in every police force, but the negative views that some people have towards the police overall are amazing considering the number of unseen acts (and sacrifices) they make every day to benefit the public.
It's nice to hear this officer went out of his way to apologize to you, though I honestly wouldn't have held it against any officer in the same situation if they hadn't. They just likely have more important things to be doing, if you ask me. |
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Joseph Tames, Photographer, Assistant
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Palm Desert | CA | | Posted: 1:46 PM on 07.03.10 |
->> Back in January, wife and I were hanging out at Oceanside Harbor. Several emergency vehicles rushed to a central point with only lights flashing.
I quickly grabbed a camera and my credentials and started asking questions. Lifeguards and police were very hesitant to give me info. They sealed off a wide area with me inside the perimeter.
After shooting for about 15 minutes, one policeman approached me and said a suicide jumper was being transported to this location to be airlifted to hospital.
After shooting the transport and airlift, several officers came to me and gave me more info; even asking for copies of the photos.
I have found that if you act professional, you will be treated professional. |
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