After calling out the Los Angeles Police Department for blaming COVID-19 shortages on “defunding,” William Gude found himself charged with a strange “eavesdropping” crime. But this is just one battle waged during a much larger war.
Gude calls himself “Film The Police LA,” and has filed HUNDREDS of complaints against the LAPD in the past two years. He’s exposed misconduct from officers – from refusing to wear masks to stopping and frisking children – and always records his interactions.
So it was only a matter of time before they’d retaliate.
California’s eavesdropping law actually makes it legal to record phone conversations without consent if participants are in public or expect to be recorded.
Considering the fact that Gude’s been recording the department for years, both of those boxes were likely checked!
Being able to record and videotape police is a useful modern strategy any of us can use. But even if you don't find yourself in the position of recording the police, you’re affected. If people are criminalized for “eavesdropping,” ALL of us will have less access to the truth!
If police are going to pretend to be leaders of public safety, we need to be able to expose the truth when it means making our communities safer. But, like Gude has exposed hundreds of times, our safety is NOT what the system of policing is invested in.