Filming The NH State Police

Today as I was walking down South Willow Street in Manchester I came across a NH State Trooper assigned to the commercial vehicle enforcement unit (you can tell this by their license plate being of the 700-series).  The trooper was performing what appeared to be an inspection of a pick-up truck that was towing a trailer carrying various landscaping equipment.

I decided to stop and film the inspection.

More importantly than the filming of a routine inspection itself, I believe, is ensuring the willingness of government employees to accept the fact that the public has the right to monitor the actions of public officials in public.  I was curious to see how the trooper would respond.

The trooper approached me and asked if I was alright.  I remained silent and didn’t respond to her inquiries as to what I was doing.

Instead of calling for backup, shaking me down, or worse, this trooper told me I was welcome to record her.  She asked if I was alright.  Remaining silent, I gave her a thumbs up.  She walked off and continued to do an inspection of the vehicle simply ignoring that I was there in the first place.  I was sure to be standing a good distance away from the trooper so that she would know that I was not intending to interfere.

This is exactly how the police should respond to a member of the public choosing to record them…  in public.

At the conclusion of the vehicle stop I thanked the trooper for being professional and explained that I appreciated her professionalism when presented with a citizen journalist wishing to document what she was doing in public.  She provided me with her business card upon my request.

Today I am sending the following letter to State Police Director/Colonel Robert Quinn to tell him that I appreciated the professionalism of his employee:

Colonel Robert L. Quinn,

On 06/09/10 at approximately 10:20AM I was walking down South Willow Street in Manchester, NH.  As I was walking I came upon a vehicle stop/inspection by one of your troopers near Quirk Oldsmobile.

As an individual who considers himself a citizen-journalist, I decided to stop and film the inspection with my BlackBerry.

As I am sure you are aware nowadays there are countless examples of police agents over-reacting to a member of the public who only wants to film the actions of government agents who they employ.  I write you to make you aware of the professionalism of your trooper in response to my wish to film her public actions.

Trooper Kathleen Murray simply approached me to inquire if I was “alright.”  Choosing to remain silent I gave the trooper a thumbs-up.  Her response was one that I believe you and every member of the public should be proud of…  and demand.

The trooper told me I was welcome to continue filming her and she continued to perform her duties.

At the conclusion of the motor vehicle stop I asked Trooper Murray for her business card.  She provided me with it and this is how I know who she was.

Trooper Murray didn’t overreact.  She respected my rights as a citizen of this state and country.  I only wish that a brief search of YouTube showed that others in law enforcement acted as professionally as your employee did.

I would respectfully request that you extend my thanks to Trooper Murray and consider possibly placing this example of her professionalism when interacting with the public in her personnel file.

I’ve since deleted my video of this incident because there is nothing to report.  Nothing other than my sincere appreciation of the respect I was shown by your employee.  Reporting the positive encounters we have with government representatives is as, if not more, important than reporting the negative.

I intend on letting many people know about the professional and courteous actions I’ve encountered with your agency when you encounter a member of the public wishing to exercise their right of the press.

Respectfully,

Bradley Jardis