Citizens catch cop speeding with cameras / radars, face arrest
By Darren Murph 
posted February 19th 2007 4:51AM
posted February 19th 2007 4:51AM
Three cheers for citizens arrest! Actually, the case might end up going in the opposite direction, as a Bartow County couple could be arrested and tried for "allegedly stalking a Kennesaw police officer by installing cameras to track neighborhood speeders." While it seems perfectly okay to mount radars and speed traps all over our bustling highways in order to fine citizens for their hasty ways, apparently it's not so cool to keep an eagle-eye on a police officer breaking the same law. The couple spent around $1,200 installing a trio of video cameras and a radar gun outside their home in an attempt to monitor neighborhood speedsters and convince residents to slow down for safety, but things got a bit hairy when the surveillance system tagged a cop scurrying by at 17 miles-per-hour over the posted speed limit. Oddly enough, it seems that the officer was able to generate an acceptable excuse to dodge the penalty for speeding, while simultaneously planning to press charges against the dutiful couple for "stalking." So, dear readers, how exactly does an immobile, stationary camera go about stalking someone, hmm?[Via Digg]
try having your family being the neighbourhood scapegoat for everyones f**kups for 13 years (for me, from the age 4/5) of just because you are the only ethnic family within a mile radius. Several courtcases, 3 burglaries, dozen broken windows, multiple unprovoked beatings, 1 cutting, one bankruptcy, one reposession, 2 arsons, 3 written off by cars by fire or all windows being smashed out, 2 death threats (1 involved fire, the other a claw hammer), daily racial abuse (well that was only for a few years until they got bored) later and say the same thing. I could keep going on and on but i dont think several logbooks will make good reading.
In all fairness we did have 1 case which did actually get a conviction, becuase the off his tits local knobhead was filmed by v'camera, in its entirety, trying to deck my elderly father at our door then later attacking police (for the second time)
That still doesn't make up for when 2 15year olds beat up my 8yr old brother with sticks. Police just said, "oh, it's just kids playing" and the time 2police officers caught someone trying to blow up our car (after calling on another incident that day). They told us about it and let them off with a warning.
From all this all i have is experience how much people can screw you over for very little reason.
Also, try reading what i said. It was my bike that was stolen. So i found it (for the 2nd bloody time and don't give me sh*t about "try locking up better next time" you don't know what they had to go through to get it) and got it back. I didn't steal it.
Thanks very much, you made my day
Let them know what you think!
cops@kennesaw-ga.gov
I did. That sucks.
that's so much bull...
Cops: 1, Citizens: 0
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Seriously what the hell is that? Weren't the cameras installed at their house? If I installed a camera in my house could my family charge me for stalking them? Wow... *still can't believe it*
Sounds like the cops I have had dealings with:
1) Kid broke into my garage and stole my sons bike. Called the police. They had me come to the station to file a report. There I listened to them compare games of mine sweeper and solitaire on their computers. They also laughed at the rookie for going out looking for speeders. I had fixed my broken door jam. Then the cop bitched me out for not getting an estimate. Said he couldn't press charges because I fixed the door.
2) Neighbors dogs gets loose and goes at my wife. She tries to raise the neighbor, but no one is home. She calls the police total of 4 times. Other neighbor calls the police 2 times. They finally tell her the dog catcher is off that day. My wife asks if they want someone bit. They finally send out a cop. The cop looks at the dog and says that he doesn't want to get bit, and leaves.
3) My wife calls the police dispatch and asks if it's okay to catch loose dogs, they tell her sure. She asks the dog catcher. He says yes, and says it would help him a lot. She catchers several dogs (over a year or so) and calls the dog catcher to come and get them. One day she catches a repeat offender (same dog for the 3rd time). She calls it in, but the dog catcher is off for the day. She then tries to take the dog to the shelter, but the dog causes her problems, so she lets it go. A few days later a cop comes to our house. The owner is looking for the dog, and he is sure we did something to it. A couple days after that, she is arrested (4 sheriffs deputies in 4 separate cars!). She is charged with criminal conversion (misdemeanor theft). Ends up the dog belongs to a well know business owner in the county. We are still in the middle of this. On top of this, 2 of the cops tell our neighbors that she is being arrested for felony theft (a lie).
On top of all this I have seen MANY cops flip their lights on, run a red light, then turn them off. I've even seen them pull into a drive-thru right after.
The one thing I have learned from all this, is that the police are not there to help you, and you should NEVER assume they are. They will do as little as possible to help anyone else and as much as possible to help themselves. Also NEVER voluntarily answer any question put to you by a cop. If you voluntarily answer the questions, they are admissible in court. They use this all the time.
i hear you. which is why if you want something to be done, dont bloody bother with the police
So, cops wont help you? Thank you for speaking on my behalf. But you are wrong. I have been a cop for 8 years, not only do I and my fellow officers help people when it isnt in our best interest, but I do it with a smile. IE: changing tires for elderly and women. Giving rides to elderly when there is inclimate weather. Spending extra time on a call to have a sit down with kids who are at risk... So please.. PLEASE do not lump all cops together... cuz I dont say all civilians are criminals because there are a few bad apples in society.
The lamborghini is a real police car used in Italy
"So, dear readers, how exactly does an immobile, stationary camera go about stalking someone, hmm?"
Umm, so if a stalker puts an immobile, stationary camera outside your window, it's not stalking???
I know what you meant, but you're using the wrong words.
All you armchair lawyers make me laugh. Check any VTL (Vehicle and Traffic Law) in any municipality and you'll find that it just does not apply to emergency vehicles, and not just to emergency vehicles in certain scenarios (i.e. can only exceed speed limit with lights on). Emergency vehicles are *always* exempt. They can park on the sidewalk, break the speed limit, go the wrong way down a one-way street, park in a handicap spot, etc.
Does that mean that cops can do whatever they want, at any time? Of course not. They have to have good reason for what they do. In the case of normal patrol, cops are told to randomize, for obvious reasons. If they become too predictable, the bad guys can work around them, and they become irrelevant. They must randomize time of day, direction traveled, and *speed.*
And how do you all know that he was not responding to a call? Each department has its own methodology for indicating to officers that they need to expedite and do so without drawing attention to themselves. This officer could have been doing the same thing.
If they were not actually responding to a call, they would still have to be aware of public safety. Beyond that, there aren't any boundaries. We've entrusted them with that privilege, and some violate it. Was this guy? Who knows, but I hope that their own Internal Affairs office investigates.
So, if they charge this couple with stalking, then I shall have the ability to charge the mayor and police chief of the city of Boulder, Colorado, with stalking - as they took my picture for going through a red light and later mailed a ticket. And, all of you shall also have the ability to charge every town and city with the same charge of stalking at every place where a camera is located in public areas such as, toll booths, a school entry way, an airport security gate and intersections. Finally, a criminal charge does not need to resolve to a guilty verdict to pursue civil damages of "stalking". Hmmmm.... Chief Callahan must ask himself if this is really worth it... do the right thing, dear 'ole chief, and charge the officer with speeding and acknowledge the bravery and citizenship of the couple that took the picture and then confronted the police.
"In my experience people like you bring attention to yourself and in a way crave the attention"
"PLEASE do not lump all cops together"
Hmmm (strokes beard)
Here is the actual Kennesaw Police, which is where I live. No Lambos here:
http://www.kennesaw.ga.us/index.asp?NID=188
More on the story:
http://www.shadowmonkey.net/news/latest/richard-perrone-complaints.html
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/10935892/detail.html
You can let the Kennesaw Police Department know your thoughts about this matter by contacting them at:
E-mail: cops@kennesaw-ga.gov
Phone: (770) 422-2505
Fax: (770) 429-4537
Web: http://www.kennesaw.ga.us/index.asp?NID=31
http://forums.officer.com/forums/index.php?
Just to see how they look at their own...has to be one of the most pig headed websites I've ever read!
Good luck to the couple!
This happened in a northern suburb of Atlanta. I live in a southern suburb and its no better. I got a ticket in Fayette county for doing 55 in a 35 zone. Unfortunately for the cop, based on where he was sitting, and where I was pulled over, there is NO WAY he did less than 130 to catch me....in a 35 mile an hour zone. When I went to court to fight the ticket (I was doing 55 but wanted to prove my point) the judge threw out my "evidence" because I did not have sufficient proof I was proficient in the use of the advanced mathematical formulas used to prove my point (things like distance = rate x time!!!!!!!) I argued that being an accredited and degreed engineer from Georgia Tech would qualify me and she still said no but as a compromise she would drop the fine to 45 in a 35. I cut my losses that day, but EVERYONE in that court room knew good and well that the cop was WRONG, and I would hope that someone from the judges office had a talk with him....had I brought a diploma with me, he may have been up on charges!!
aaron,
no he wouldn't have. he is totally able to use any means capable to catch you violating the law as necessary as long as he doesn't endanger others while in the pursuit of his job. No judge in their right mind would have charged the cop with any offense no matter what speed he was going!.
Cops are just disguised criminals with a better union.
This after that guy booked himself for passing a Bus on the left while it was stopped. This guy has now damaged the reputation gained by that.
DARE to keep cops off doughnuts