# Why don't suspects on "Cops" ever mention the cameras? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 13, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625 "2006-06-13T23:27:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/1 "2006-06-13T23:27:21Z")
This question has been bothering me for some years. On the show _Cops_, police often arrest many angry, drunken suspects who curse and scream and struggle and are otherwise physically or verbally abusive. Yet, I’ve never noticed any of them mentioning the cameras. It’s obvious watching the footage that the cameras are there. Often you can see crew members running around, you can see cables, and the lights would also be a definite tipoff. Yet, none of these alleged criminals says anything like, “GET THAT \*\*\*\*ING CAMERA OFF ME!” or anything like it. Sometimes you’ll see the suspect glance at the camera, but they never say anything about it. Why is this? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2006, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/2 "2006-06-13T23:37:11Z")
😕 I’ve never seen afullepisode of Cops, but I swear I’ve seen them say, “Get that f\*cking camera off me” or something to that extent plenty of times. But then again, I could be wrong. However, an interesting phenemenon occurs with Cops. The more likely someone is to watch Cops, the more likely they are to be _on_ Cops. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2006, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/3 "2006-06-13T23:50:57Z")
I’m sure it’s heavily edited, I seem to recall an ocassional reference to the camera. I’d guess the cops might suggest to the suspects that it may be in their interest to allow the filming, but I doubt they’d put that on camera. I’m fairly certain that they have to get a release before airing it though. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/4 "2006-06-13T23:51:30Z")
The people who say “Get that camera off me!” are unlikely to sign a release allowing their image to be shown on TV. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/5 "2006-06-13T23:53:02Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > The people who say “Get that camera off me!” are unlikely to sign a release allowing their image to be shown on TV. BINGO!!! ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/6 "2006-06-14T00:56:48Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > The people who say “Get that camera off me!” are unlikely to sign a release allowing their image to be shown on TV. Even if they convinced one of those people to sign the release, there would still be the whole “fourth wall” issue. Bringing attention to the camera is usually not what the producer wants to do. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/7 "2006-06-14T01:22:21Z")
I want to make a comment abaout COPS. I’ve seen some episodes where they went into people’s homess, and televised it, but they blurred their faces so it seems that they didn’t release the footage. To me that seems very wrong as the police are given powers to enter homes in emergencies for very specific reasons, not to film TV shows and humiliate people in front of their neighbors. They should not be taking advantage of those powers for their own purposes. If they did that to me, all my friends and neighbors would know who was who. It’s not right. One also wonders under what circumstances they were asked to release footage. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/8 "2006-06-14T02:51:20Z")
> [@](#): > > [T]he US Supreme Court deemed these sorts of media “ride-alongs” to be unconstitutional. In a unanimous [May 1999 decision](http://www.usfca.edu/pj/censoring.htm), stemming from a case involving US marshals and The Washington Post, the court said: “It violates the Fourth Amendment rights of homeowners for police to bring members of the media or other third parties into their home during the execution of a warrant.” > > – snip – > > Just when the issue of media intrusion is being discussed in a local courtroom, the TV show that turned the “ride-along” into a cultural icon—Fox-TV’s COPS—is in town cruising around with King County Sheriff’s officers. > > – snip – > > [Sergeant] Urquhart says camera operators are forbidden to enter people’s homes when the officers are serving a warrant. But the camera crew will charge in with the officers when they respond to a call, such as a burglary or a domestic disturbance. “If the people that live there say, ‘No, I don’t want to be photographed, I don’t want them in my house,’ then they leave, period,” Urquhart says. But, he adds, “Because the TV show is so well known, it’s usually not an issue.” Before leaving, the COPS crew also seeks a signed release form from everyone whose face is caught on tape—remarkably easy to come by, according to Urquhart, who says, “When they find out it’s COPS, they say, ‘Hey cool, I’ll sign.’” Source: [http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0038/news-fefer.php](http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0038/news-fefer.php) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/9 "2006-06-14T03:54:36Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > However, an interesting phenemenon occurs with Cops. The more likely someone is to watch Cops, the more likely they are to be _on_ Cops. Generally, when we make such statements of alleged fact here, we try to support them with some evidence. So do you have a cite you can give for this ‘fact’? ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/10 "2006-06-14T04:27:12Z")
> [@A.R. Cane](#): > > I’d guess the cops might suggest to the suspects that it may be in their interest to allow the filming Is it? ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/11 "2006-06-14T05:10:26Z")
> [@Mr2001](#): > > Is it? I dunno’, it’s less likely the cops would use excessive force on camera, but you have to consider the embarassment of having your behavior shown on national TV. If you’re innocent it might be good to have the tape, if you’re guilty, not so good. I think most cops would like the taping, so they might try to spin it so it sounds good to people they encounter during taping. Just a guess, as I said. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/12 "2006-06-14T05:25:21Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > However, an interesting phenemenon occurs with Cops. The more likely someone is to watch Cops, the more likely they are to be _on_ Cops. 😛 Wouldn’t law enforcement types like the show? I wanted to be a cop once, I really like the show, and have never been arrested. Are you guessing that career criminals watch so that they can see their colleagues? ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/13 "2006-06-14T07:18:59Z")
Mandy Patinkin: [singing as Ronnie Dobbs] _I thought that my home was my castle / With no one scrutinizing me / No pigs, no lyin’ bitch, no hassle / Y’all are brutalizing me / Can’t a man not drink his beer in silence? / Can’t a man not crudely lie and scream? / Can’t a man not control his bitch with violence? / Y’all are brutalizing me_ ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/14 "2006-06-14T07:27:59Z")
> [@Cagey Drifter](#): > > angry, drunken suspects who curse and scream and struggle and are otherwise physically or verbally abusive. This may be a better tip-off to the presence of the camera than their actually commenting on it. Hamming it up, and such. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/15 "2006-06-14T07:59:34Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > Mandy Patinkin: [singing as Ronnie Dobbs] _I thought that my home was my castle / With no one scrutinizing me / No pigs, no lyin’ bitch, no hassle / Y’all are brutalizing me / Can’t a man not drink his beer in silence? / Can’t a man not crudely lie and scream? / Can’t a man not control his bitch with violence? / Y’all are brutalizing me_ That was David Cross and you know it! You been fuckin Travis?!? You that’s it lets go! ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/16 "2006-06-14T09:52:24Z")
> [@Sage Rat](#): > > This may be a better tip-off to the presence of the camera than their actually commenting on it. Hamming it up, and such. Remembering all those on the run criminals who were caught by a sting operation involving a fake competition win, maybe some criminals just like being seen on TV and aren’t worried about the social stigma. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/17 "2006-06-14T11:59:55Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > Wouldn’t law enforcement types like the show? I wanted to be a cop once, I really like the show, and have never been arrested. Plenty of cops appear on that show, hence the title. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/18 "2006-06-14T12:16:04Z")
Many years ago, Geraldo Rivera did a special that involved a drug deal. He went into a hotel room to make the purchase and one of the guys there said “Hey, aren’t you Geraldo Rivera?” My brother was in prison with that guy. It was his claim to fame. They had the show in the video library. While I have no other cite other than second hand, I don’t have a problem envisioning a group of folks putting their Cops episode on heavy rotation. The tranny truck driver? Not so much. There is a sector of people that would consider that being “famous.” ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/19 "2006-06-14T12:56:00Z")
David Cross ‘is’ Ronnie Dobbs. Mandy Patinkin plays Ronnie Dobbs in the stage version. ---
**Author:** ![Jombi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@Jombi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jombi)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625/20 "2006-06-14T13:21:12Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Urquhart says camera operators are forbidden to enter people’s homes when the officers are serving a warrant. But the camera crew will charge in with the officers when they respond to a call, such as a burglary or a domestic disturbance I don’t get this, and I’ve always wondered why camera crews are allowed to rush into someone’s private residence along with the police. The cite from the Supreme Court says they can’t go in with police serving a warrant, so why would it be okay to go in when they’re responding to a domestic violence call? The principle is the same: the cops can come in uninvited because they’re cops and have good reason, but the camera crew are just regular folks like you and me and the cops don’t have the authority to invite them in. I can’t run into someone’s house, right behind the cops, just so I can get a good view of what’s going on. The cops couldn’t tell people on the sidewalk, “Hey, come on in and see this! This guy’s drunk!” Can someone explain the reasoning that the cops and Cops use to get away with this? And getting the signed release after the fact doesn’t address the issue. If I break into your house, I’ve still violated the law even if afterward I get your signed agreement that it’s okay with you and you won’t prosecute me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-suspects-on-cops-ever-mention-the-cameras/360625.md?page=2)