# Police Abuse Power in Confiscating Dirty Pics **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 31, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-abuse-power-in-confiscating-dirty-pics/306248 "2005-05-31T18:20:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 1
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-abuse-power-in-confiscating-dirty-pics/306248/1 "2005-05-31T18:20:47Z")
In [Hudson, Ohio](http://www.newsnet5.com/crimestoppers/4544803/detail.html), a cop who accidentally stuck his cruiser in the mud didn’t much like it when a passer-by took pictures of the incident. I wouldn’t like it much either. But I wouldn’t have the power to do what this cop did: radio for a fellow officer to stop the photographer for no good reason, then confiscate the smart card on the digital camera and erase the images. This confrontation was caught on video tape, and the city suspended the officer for one day. The photographer is suing the city for $25,000, saying his civil rights were violated. I’m usually a defender of the cops, even if, in hindsight, they didn’t choose the absolute best course, because I do think they need some leeway when they’re in high-pressure situations. This doesn’t come close. The city’s one-day suspension is a joke. The officer’s abuse of his position was blatant. I’m not sure I see how he could have possibly believed this was appropriate, and how his supervisors can possibly believe he should remain employed. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-abuse-power-in-confiscating-dirty-pics/306248)._