# Why don't the suspects on COPS ever acknowledge the cameramen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 4, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-suspects-on-cops-ever-acknowledge-the-cameramen/505258 "2009-08-04T03:58:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MagicXylophone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@MagicXylophone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicXylophone)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-suspects-on-cops-ever-acknowledge-the-cameramen/505258/21 "2009-08-05T16:50:33Z")
If you want to see gratuitous acknowledgement of cameras, watch _Cheaters_! ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-suspects-on-cops-ever-acknowledge-the-cameramen/505258/22 "2009-08-05T17:33:09Z")
Or “Love Stings: Sex Decoys” on Tru TV. That show is rad! ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-suspects-on-cops-ever-acknowledge-the-cameramen/505258/23 "2009-08-05T17:47:05Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > The rumour is that the COPS crew quietly turns off the cameras when the pigs want to dish out some bootheel vengance. I have no difficulty believing this given that (a) the COPS people are clearly cop-lovers and (b) they’d never get cooperation from another wallow of pigs if they revealed what really happens on the street. Bull and shit. COPS is not some major money-making scheme for Fox. It’s something cheap and easy to throw up there on Saturday nights. No way would they risk a massive lawsuit (and they would be sued to high heavens if the COPS told the camera crew to scram while they beat on some guy) for some dinky show that could easily be replaced by American Idol reruns. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-suspects-on-cops-ever-acknowledge-the-cameramen/505258/24 "2009-08-05T20:29:02Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Bull and shit. COPS is not some major money-making scheme for Fox. It’s something cheap and easy to throw up there on Saturday nights. No way would they risk a massive lawsuit (and they would be sued to high heavens if the COPS told the camera crew to scram while they beat on some guy) for some dinky show that could easily be replaced by American Idol reruns. Exactly. Even if the cop in question was Officer Dirty Harry McMinoritybeater, he’s not going to risk doing anything any less than 100% by the book when there’s anything vaguely resembling camera within eyesight, be it on, off or broken. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-suspects-on-cops-ever-acknowledge-the-cameramen/505258/25 "2009-08-05T21:30:19Z")
Anyway, shouldn’t it be _Kops_? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-suspects-on-cops-ever-acknowledge-the-cameramen/505258/26 "2009-08-05T21:38:54Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, no point earning another charge of breaking and enter[sub]tain[/sub]ing. Keep that up and I’ll throw the book, lyrics and music at you. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-suspects-on-cops-ever-acknowledge-the-cameramen/505258/27 "2009-08-06T00:56:36Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Exactly. Even if the cop in question was **Officer Dirty Harry McMinoritybeater** , he’s not going to risk doing anything any less than 100% by the book when there’s anything vaguely resembling camera within eyesight, be it on, off or broken. Can I change my username to that? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-suspects-on-cops-ever-acknowledge-the-cameramen/505258/28 "2009-08-06T02:22:14Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Can I change my username to that? 😃 If you do, I suggest you describe your jurisdiction as “Sisterfuck County, Georgia”. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-suspects-on-cops-ever-acknowledge-the-cameramen/505258/29 "2009-08-06T14:20:34Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > A lot of these scrotes, just like Earl, Randy, Joy et al., are pretty proud to be on _Cops_. Of course most sign the waiver. Scrotes? You haven’t read The Choirboys by chance have you? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-suspects-on-cops-ever-acknowledge-the-cameramen/505258.md?page=1)