Below are some guidelines based on best practices for copwatching as an individual:
Safety Guidelines
Assess the situation. When you’re Cop Watching, there is always an elevated risk of arrest or being targeted by the cops in some other way. If you decide to observe and/or document the police on your own, in many ways you have much less security than you do on a formal team. Remember: the goals of Cop Watch are to deter, de-escalate and document, not to make a political statement by getting arrested.
- Assess your risk: What is your immigration/citizenship status? Do you have an open case? Are you on parole or probation? Are you carrying weapons or contraband? Are you feeling even-tempered and focused? What will the consequences be if you’re arrested?
- Assess your conditions: Who are you with? (no one, your pet, someone vulnerable, someone who also does cop watch etc.)? Are there other people around? Are they also observing? How hostile are the cops?
- Then decide: Do you feel safe enough to film? Do you want the cops and community person to know you’re watching? How close to the incident do you feel you can safely be?
- Keep in mind: every situation is going to be different, so while there are certain key things you should always do, you will always have to assess and make choices based on conditions.
Call a friend and let them know you’re Cop Watching. That way, someone will know if you’re arrested.
You may want to show a valid ID, if cops ask you for one. While you are completely within your right NOT to show ID, the reality is, cops frequently arrest people who choose to assert this right, and your goal is to not be arrested so you can continue filming the incident. If asked for ID, try to keep your camera running during your interaction with police.
Debrief if necessary. It’s sometimes even more difficult to observe abuse and harassment on your own, because you can offer the person being targeted less support and you don’t have your team to back you up. Call someone from your organization or a friend and talk through what you witnessed.
Guidelines for Communicating with the Police and the People they are Targeting
Communicating with a Community Member
When you approach an incident: Remain calm. As soon as you approach, if you feel it will not escalate the situation, explain to the person/people being targeted that you are just watching/documenting to make sure the cops do not violate their rights or become abusive. Examples: “I’m just going to stand here and watch to make sure the cops don’t violate your rights.” or “I’m just filming the police to make sure they don’t become violent.”
**If the police start talking to you move on to the “If the police approach you” section below.
If the police don’t approach you and don’t seem to mind your presence: ask the person/people being targeted if they are ok and if they know why they’re being stopped. They may answer. They also may not for many reasons: they’re afraid, the police immediately tell them to be quiet, they don’t understand you etc. Don’t take it personally. Don’t push, but if it seems appropriate and safe, ask if they need you to call someone for them, get a phone number and make the call.
If the person/people being targeted asks you to stop filming: Do your best to continue filming. Reassure them that you’re just filming the police to make sure they’re ok. Use your judgment! If a community member is emotionally disturbed and/or your presence seems to be escalating the situation, you may want to stop filming or move farther away from the incident. However never leave the incident.
If the Police Approach You
You can say: “I’m not obstructing you in any way. I’m only exercising my legal right to observe the police while you are doing your job.’”
If the police say you don’t have the right to observe and/or film: Confidently repeat the phrases above. You do have the right! Even if you feel you have to put the camera down, try not to turn it off.
If the police tell you to get back: Say you will step back. Take one step back. While stepping back say, “I’m cooperating. I have stepped back. I’m not trying to stop you from doing your job. I’m just exercising my legal right to observe the police.” As the police continue to tell you to step back, continue to take one step back while repeating this response. Do your best not to allow the police to make you leave the scene or push you back so far than you cannot see what’s happening. You have the right to observe from a “reasonable distance”. Exercise that right!!!
Effective Monitoring, Documenting, Deterring and De-escalating
Guidelines
- Get the full shot. (Try to get the full bodies of the cops and the people they are targeting in your frame.)
- Keep your phone ready. Keep it charged and make sure there is storage space on it.
- Document key info. Record the date, time, location and identifying info about the cops by saying them into your camera or taking notes (if you’re not filming). Describe any police misconduct you see. (E.g. “They are searching her pockets. She did not give her consent.”) However, don’t fully narrate what’s going on or add commentary as you may drown out what’s being said during the incident and/or inadvertently incriminate yourself or others.
- Encourage others around you to observe and/or document.
- When filming in the subway, keep in mind “ancillary” equipment (additional lights, mics, tripods etc.) is not allowed.
- If someone is being arrested and you feel it will not escalate the situation, ask if they need you to call someone for them, get a number and make the call. If you feel you can support beyond just documenting, ask their legal name so you can track them through the system.
Options
- If someone’s rights are being violated: discuss Know Your Rights information with someone you’re with or another witness. (E.g. “Isn’t it true that you don’t have to consent to a search? Isn’t it true you should say out loud ‘I do not consent to this search?’” or “Isn’t is always a good idea to exercise your right to remain silent?”)
- If there is brutality:
- Organize on-lookers to chant.
- Say loud enough for the cops to hear “I am exercising my right to document this police brutality.”
- Say loud enough for the cops to hear “They are not resisting.”
Guidelines for Posting
- Cop Watching is about exposing police misconduct. In cases of clear misconduct and excessive force, it’s important to get the footage out there. However, try to get permission from the person targeted and try not to post anything that seems like it might incriminate a community member.
- If you are unsure how to proceed, reach out to a trustworthy organization or lawyer right away. They can give you advice if you are afraid of backlash from the media or the police.