HARTFORD, Connecticut (PNN) - April 25, 2012 - The Connecticut state Senate passed legislation last week that would hold pig thug cops in the state personally liable for violating a citizen's First Amendment right to videotape their actions. The bill is sponsored by Senator Eric Coleman (Bloomfield).
According to The Day, a Connecticut newspaper, Coleman cited the 1991 Rodney King beating as an inspiration for the legislation. The proposal was also prompted by a 2009 incident in which "a Catholic priest was arrested by East Haven (thug cops) while recording (them) harassing Latino business owners." A federal investigation resulted in charges being filed against four pig thug cops.
"Sometimes we become aware of incidents where (thug cops) have been overzealous or abusive and (do) not act in a very complimentary way towards the citizens who deserve to be served and protected," said Coleman.
The Connecticut bill, which still must pass the state's House of Representatives, is part of a trend toward increased legal protection for citizens filming thug cops in the performance of their duty. At least one appeals court has recognized that citizens have a First Amendment right to record the actions of on-duty thug cops in public places.
But outlaw cops often enjoy "qualified immunity," meaning that liability for thug cop misconduct falls on the city (e.g. taxpayers) rather than on individual cops. Senator Coleman's proposal would change that, giving terrorist cops a stronger incentive to respect the constitutional rights of Connecticut citizens.
The proposal includes several broad exemptions. Thug cops are not liable if they have a reasonable belief that their actions are necessary to enforce the law, protect public safety, preserve the integrity of a crime scene, or protect the privacy of crime victims or others.
The Senate rejected an amendment that would have added an exception for arresting someone whose actions "inconvenience or alarm" a thug cop. Critics argued that such a broad exemption would render the legislation toothless.