Pixiq

1. Digital voice recorder. Wear one. Use it. Post the audio.

2. Any modern DSLR has video capability. Use it. Post the video.

A couple of still snaps might support the story, but they don’t prove the claim.

The witty response. Best weapon ever.

Audio woulld be nice. But a “touch me or my camera and I will shove that walkie talkie down your throat” would always be a good response too.

just a follow up from Col. Jeff Cooper
“Fight back! Whenever you are offered violence, fight back! The aggressor does not fear the law, so he must be taught to fear you. Whatever the risk, and at whatever the cost, fight back!”

I have written to the Vornado company that owns/manages the building. Here is the contact info.

FATIMA VEGAS
General Manager
fvegas@vno.com

DIANA ROSENBLATT
Property Manager
drosenblatt@vno.com

JERICHO NEIBERT
Assistant Property Manager
jneibert@vno.com

STEVEN ROTH
Chairman of the Board
sroth@vno.com

MICHAEL FASCITELLI
President, CEO and Trustee
mfascitelli@vno.com

LAWRENCE FRANCIS
Director of Security Services
lfrancis@vno.com

24 hour number to security at 555 California St.
(415) 391-8212

@ KBCraig Replacing your existing body to gain that capability can get expensive… Most sub-$300 pocket cameras shoot at 720p and 1080p. I hang an old Nikon P5100 around my neck, then start recording when the po-po or insecurity guards start walking in my direction.

They never notice it, cause they’re usually focusing on my DSLR gear.

For audio: iPhone and Android phones both have apps for surreptitious audio recording, and some are free. My favorite for Android is called ‘Cop Recorder’ –

http://www.androlib.com/android.application.org-ale-coprecord-qBpq.aspx

The name could draw unwanted attention from LEOs, but once activated it will run in the background, while the phone is “off,” and keeps running til you run out of battery or memory, which could be a couple of hours.

I also enable the G1′s security features, so nobody else can unlock it, keeping out the nosy LEOs who could care less about press rights.

Old-timer on the left has probably been lucky enough to not threaten anyone that would actually pre-emptively smack him down.

Although a good beatdown would be fun the law looks down on it these days. Now if he assaults you and you are recording you can defend yourself. However, the witty retort is always allowed just be prepared to defend yourself. Bullies don’t like to be reminded of their stupidity.

I love how the parent company always denies responsibility and describes it as atypical behavior. Security guards don’t freelance, they do what they’re told and harass people they’re told to harass. Of course, most people simply walk away, and when someone does challenge them, they can just throw up their hands and say “this is not what we tell them to do (officially).”

Organizations who engage in this sort of practice should be investigated. Sadly, law enforcement has no problem with this behavior so it’s not likely to happen.

Disappointing to see a security guard treat a photographer so unprofessionally. Photography is not a crime.

The thing to do would have been an immediate 911 call to the real police. This guard communicated a threat of physical harm and, while IANAL , almost certainly opened himself up to criminal and civil action.