Cops More Aware of Citizen Video, 20 Years After King Arrest

Police officers in today's era are much more aware of the fact that their actions may be filmed. George Holliday used a Sony HandyCam to capture the LAPD's arrest of Rodney King in 1991. Photo via Flickr (airgap).

Younger police officers who have grown up in the age of YouTube and smartphones say they are much more aware of citizen video, a fact that makes an incident similar to the Rodney King arrest much less likely today.

Compared to the Los Angeles Police officers who arrested Rodney King, cops today are much more aware of the fact that someone is almost always watching, and potentially recording, their actions.

"Early on in their training, I always tell them, 'I don't care if you're in a bathroom taking care of your personal business.... Whatever you do, assume it will be caught on video,' " Sgt. Heather Fungaroli, who supervises recruits at the LAPD's academy, told the Los Angeles Times. "We tell them if they're doing the right thing then they have no reason to worry."

Read the full story at LATimes.com.

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