Pixiq

Gylfie needs a serious refresher course on Terry v. Ohio.

are you a terrorist? photography is a crime in Heil Hitler america … resistance is futile …

First, it is very disturbing that we have leos that are dumber than a box of hammers. Second, poor guys that are taking pictures at a subway are put through the Gestapo routine, but the Army lets a Muslim terrorist doctor operate freely within an army base and pays him at the same time to go on a terrorist rampage. Third, keep up the good work recording these incidents, that’s the good news.

I hope a suit is on the way for illegal search since they removed his ID from his pocket. A Terry stop only allows for a pat down to search for weapons. It does not include searches for drugs, ID, dog food…..

Wow, someone has an overactive imagination.

I can’t believe this flies for protect and serve. They don’t issue brains with badges that is for sure.

Why did the photographer have to be such an asshole to the officer? If he just answered his questions, he would not have a problem. The officer is just trying to keep us safe. That guy should have been arrested.

So they can arrest you to determine if you commit a crime. Arrrrghhhh

Richard Gylfie is a fat moron. He's the type that joins the force because he was picked on all of his life. If you really want to know why most cops get called "pigs"; take a good hard look at Richard Gylfie. He's a fat, bald-headed loser and I'm sure that everyone's laughing at Richard Gylfie right about now; especially his fellow officers. If you want a nice laugh, go to Richard Gylfie's facebook; he thinks he's a biker....lol. What a poser.

I know officer Gylfie on a personal basis. I don't want to say how I know him because Richard Gylfie is a bully who will do anything within his power to unfairly retaliate against those whom he comes in conflict with, using his power as an officer of the law (you can see an example of this in the video when he threatens to place the cameraman on an FBI list). Whether or not you think the cameraman was provoking him is up to you but let it be known that Richard Gylfie SHOULD NOT have the privilege to enforce the law. This man is truly a bully in every sense of the word and it saddens me to see that he is allowed to "serve" the justice system. There's so much I could reveal about this man's personal life that would make most people sick to their stomach's but I do not feel at liberty to do that. I will not sink to this abusers level. I will tell you this though, he obsessively reads comments left on different sites concerning this story. So if you want to say something to Mr. Gylfie, now you know how. Karma will not serve you well for the things you've done Richard.

Jiminy = Troll

The photographer handled himself pretty well. However, I still think you have to push these meat heads a little harder. Not sure how much a 10 min. detainment is worth as to monetary damages or the ability to affect change.

Otherwise good stuff.

Jiminy, what question didn’t he answer and how was he an asshole? He was very polite and he explained himself as simply and clearly as anyone could.

This Richard guy seems quite interested in how to plant a bomb in the subway system. Some might say a bit too interested. He may be trying to communicate to his alien masters how to blow up the subway. I don’t know if he is or not but I want to determine whether Richard is communicating with alien overlords bent on destroying the subway system.

Until he tells us, he should be put on the FBI X-Files watch list, just incase he is actually an alien infiltrator wearing a skin suit.

@Edin: I seem to recall that a New York photographer who was detained by transit police (not the one who was on Colbert) settled his case for what worked out to about $1000 per minute he was detained. $10,000 + the illegal search + pain and suffering for being threatened, intimidated, and publicly berated, works out to enough that, while not a million dollar lawsuit by any means, is enough to keep some young and hungry litigator happy.

Seconds into the video and it’s blatantly obvious Richard Gylfie is a raging idiot, living in some sort of 24-inspired fantasy world.

There’s just no excuse for anyone this stupid being allowed to carry a badge and a gun.

But what really bothers me is that people like this don’t get fired on the spot once their superiors see things like this. It seems like someone would in any other job… what makes this job so special?

See the end of the video, this is just cliff notes. It was a *25* minute detainment so maybe more like $25,000. Nearly a half hour lost every time you go out to take photos?

Here’s a picture I took of the turnstiles on the Red Line Subway. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8579276@N05/3781607089/

Oh God, the terror! Ahhh!!! Feeling scared yet?

Oh yeah? Here’s another, American scum!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/8579276@N05/3781587589/

BAWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

CLOSE UP!!! RARARRRRRR http://www.flickr.com/photos/8579276@N05/3782410770/

Why would Al Queda pay for pics when they can just steal mine off of Flickr?

“I don’t know if you’re going to sell these photos to al Qaeda”

My response to this would be, “Actually, I’m not. I’ll just put them up on Flickr so al Qaeda can have them for free!”

dude set the trap and cop fell for it.

Lawsuit time.

lol the passerby’s comment of “another day in paradise” just made me lol & lol & lol.

I keep watching the first minute of the encounter with Gylfie wondering what Shawn could have done differently. While everything he did was *technically* correct and lawful, I wonder if there was another tact he could have taken that would have led to a more “reasonable” response from the cop.

One of the primary lessons learned when dealing with cops is to keep your mouth shut. Seriously. Don’t ever – EVER – try to teach a cop the law. That’s like waving a steak in the face of a pit bull.

I keep trying to see what Shawn could have really done differently, and I’m just glad he had his video camera running the whole time.

@SelbyPhoto

You may have noticed that police use their position not only to “protect and serve”, but they also use their authority (badge/gun) in order to gain compliance and change behavior. ex.: one speeding ticket may not change your driving habits, but spending money on lots of tickets may in fact get you to slow down. Whether or not you would have ever caused an accident is immaterial. Compliance is achieved by your economic choice. In the above video, you can clearly see an attempt by the officer to gain compliance through threats of future harm. In that situation (unlike my scenario) it is irrelevant that the conduct of the officer is beyond the pale (from the officer’s point of view). The officer, regardless of law or policy, is trying to affect change and the means are a secondary consideration.

Why is this important to your comment? Because the only way, it seems, that we as individuals will ever affect how police conduct themselves is to use the same methods on them that they use on us. You say “Don’t ever”. I say “do it every time” if you are within your legal rights. This type of officer is always on the verge of “going off”. He just needs a little push. Every individual has to make a judgment call whether they want to push it just a little more, to take that unlawful hit, taser, or arrest in order to “ticket” the police and gain compliance through economics.

It is sad that seems to have come to this, but the general voting population either doesn’t know or doesn’t care so I wouldn’t expect any relief from that group.

Hopefully there is a more peaceful way.

This police officer had every right to do what he did. Subways are terrorist targets, and he was right in asking you what you were doing. In most subway systems, they ask over the loudspeaker for people to report any suspicious activity or unattended packages. I see where you are coming from, cause that officer sounded stupid. But all he should have asked was for your ID, your purpose, and maybe asked you to leave. But you should have just cooperated completely, and answered all of his questions. Don’t talk back, don’t try to prove him wrong….this works 99% of the time.

Terrorist target or not, photography IS ALLOWED on the LA subway.

I think it’s time for another gathering of photographers to ride the subway.

looks self inflicted to me, if you engaged him more politely and answered his question you probably would of been allowed to continue, I was approached there twelve months ago, when I answered their questions they let me keep shooting without taking any personal details.

I really like the irony of people being terrorized in an attempt to prevent terrorism.

Andrew said, “if you engaged him more politely and answered his question you probably would of been allowed to continue”

Probably not, for the most part police officers have already made a judgment before they talk to you. If you are already under suspicion no amount of polite talk will get you out of it. In this video it was obvious the officer had already decided the photographer was somehow a bad guy. Talking to him was just an attempt to get him to do or say something arrestable.

photography rights activists should put together some flash mobs & hit places like this…. taking pictures all over the place. I wonder what the police reaction would be?

totally disagree with you Ari, when I watch the video I see the cop ask a very simple question, which the photographer answers in a rude and evasive fashion “’cause I want to”, he continues to evade the question relentlessly, tries pathetically to intimidate the cop with “i’m a rights activist” showing absolutely no respect for a cop simply trying to do his job, its little wonder the cop reacted that way – they have an expectation that law abiding citizens with nothing to hide will treat them with a little respect (that they deserve for putting their asses on the line), if you start being a smart ass and refuse to answer the most basic questions you very quickly get pidgeonholed as scum. Like I said, i was approached in that exact station and had no problem, answered the question and they just told me to keep out of peoples way and left me shooting – and had several similar situations with cops and rent-a-cops elsewhere.

But here is the difference Andrew:

You have no problem giving up your rights and that is ok for you.

Other people have an expectation that their rights will not be violated. When they are, they tend to get a bit upset.

Being rude to an officer is not against the law. Good officers know that when they go “fishing” and get rebuffed, it is time to back off. The bad ones catch an attitude and create something from nothing.

So you do have to right not to assert your rights, but I’m sure you agree that there is nothing wrong with people asserting their rights? Or do you?

Freedom and liberty trumps safety.

Police can only clean up after the crime is committed. My safety is protected by myself, not some police officer. They might deter a crime by their presence, but only my actions can prevent a crime directed towards me.

Those officers protected no one that day and in fact added to the cause of the terrorists by instilling fear in the public and encouraging the erosion of the American way of life.

Andrew Said, “which the photographer answers in a rude and evasive fashion “’cause I want to””

How is that evasive? I take plenty of photos cause I want to, for no other reason. That the cop doesn’t say “Oh ok, have fun then” suggests he is fishing.

it’s called “instigating”…..this has nothing to do with giving up your rights. he would have let you continue if you didnt give an attitude. again, he has reasonable suspicion. say you walk into a convenient store in the middle of summer, wearing a big coat, sweatpants, and a ski mask. a cop asks, why are you wearing all that when its 79 degrees out? the cop has every right to question you. it has nothing to do with rights, its just a cop doing his job to react to something suspicious, and make sure that they pose no threat to the publics safety.

DRF23: is “instigating” another word for “detaining”? If one is going about ones lawful business, IN A CITY THAT INVITES TOURISM, does one need to submit to DETAINMENT regardless of attitude. Perhaps, he should have given the finger to the officers, and continued photographing. What then? Would you then state that giving the finger is “attitude” even though countless courts have found it to be permissible freedom of speech? When will the police learn that all lawful activity is to be treated with the same respect that police expect themselves to be treated?

Drf,

you shouldn’t use words like “reasonable suspicion” when you don’t know what they mean.

Cops can question, sure. I have no obligation to answer. It is entirely about rights. If a public servant acts like an ass, I have a right to call him or her an ass. If you wish to be subservient to anyone with a badge, that’s your business, but don’t try to tell me I have to be.

The more people allow “teh terror” to allow random meatheads to waste time and tax dollars bullying obvious non-threats, the more it will continue.

Refuse to be terrorized.

When a cop asks me why I am photographing a subway I tell him I’m gay and I like trains. Works every time!

“It’s my hobby (or job, as the case may be). Arrest me or leave me alone.”

Call the bluff. It’s easy to be a bully for 20 minutes. It’s a lot of bother to fill out the mound of paperwork and deal with the sh-tstorm that would follow this cop from that point forward. And it could pay handsomely for the citizen who’s falsely arrested.

@ Dfr23:

How is enforcing imaginary laws “doing his job”?

What evidence is there that terrorists photograph subways as a part of their planning? Didn’t happen in Spain, didn’t happen in London, either. How does taking pictures consitute “reasonable suspicion” of a crime (excepting things obvious, like upskirts)?

How did taking a picture become as suspicious as wearing winter clothing in the summertime?

You know, making assertions like that is extremely suspicious behavior. A cop should come questioon you as to why you re making them…

How can here be anybody who doesn’t know that trains are fun things to photograph? If you take pictures of people at the beach will LA Sheriffs detain you because AQ hates our beaches and you might be taking those pictures for terroristic purposes?

I wonder about the cop’s apparent knowledge of al qaeda’s photo-buying habits. Could it be he’s sold a few himself?

You see how wild and unfounded speculation works?

Just like in the old days when somebody could be accused of being a ‘red’ and have their lives and careers destroyed. Paranoia is a dangerous thing when put into the hands of authority figures.

This paranoid mentality was portrayed in the movie ‘The Oxbow Incident” where innocent people were lynched by an angry mob that cared less about the law than they did about their private brand of “justice.”