September 26th, 2009 | 
Author: Chief Rick Oliva of the Franklin, Wisconsin Police Department made this OUTRAGEOUS statement in defense of his department’s harassment of a photographer who was taking pictures of a public building from public property:
taking photographs of public buildings is, in and of itself, evidence of suspicious behavior sufficient to give authorities the right to stop and detain anyone engaging in such behavior.
According to the story from 620 WTMJ Newsradio the photographer, who happened to be WTMJ’s meteorologist:
was driving through Franklin last Saturday afternoon with his wife and four-year-old child on the way back from picking apples. Thinking that the Municipal Building and the public library would make a good backdrop for his weathercast, Gotter stopped and took a couple of photographs. The photography took about five minutes and was done from a public parking lot and sidewalk.
Someone needs to remind the Chief that he is not a Soviet Commissar – photography is perfectly legal and should not be considered suspicious. We did not spend money on cameras in order that they should be paperweights in our houses. Labeling public photography as inherently suspicious and giving authority to his police to detain anyone who engages in it is an outrage.
Posted in Photography and the Law
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This one is *real* close to home for me, so I just fired this of to “Chief” Oliva:
Sir,
As a resident of Wisconsin, I can not begin to describe my outrage at what appears to be your own arbitrary and unconstitutional take on photographers in your fair city. According to reports you are quoted as saying, “…taking photographs of public buildings is, in and of itself, evidence of suspicious behavior sufficient to give authorities the right to stop and detain anyone engaging in such behavior.”
Uh, sorry, I hate to break this to you; it’s not. Photography from public places/land is perfectly legal and in no way should be used as an excuse to stop, detain or harass any citizen in any form whatsoever. Your behavior is more akin to a Soviet Commissar than a public servant who is sworn to protect and uphold the Constitution. If you are not aware that photography is a perfectly legal and protected activity from public spaces, perhaps you need a refresher course on just what and where your “authority” lies.
Photography is perfectly legal and should not be considered suspicious. Labeling public photography as inherently suspicious and giving authority to your police to detain anyone who engages in it is an outrage. Shame, too, as I was planning a photography journey to your neck of the woods, during which I would’ve spend at least a few shekels in the local economy. Don’t think that’ll be happening now and I’ll be sure to spread the word to other photographers to stay far away from your little gulag.”
Can’t wait to see what list I turn up on or if I’ll be stopped when traveling through.
The U.S. and some other “western” countries sure are getting weird and paranoid. Seems like everywhere you go in the U.S. now some aspect of government is trying to “crack down” on everything and everyone. So much for being a free country. One little mistake and they think you are some sort of monster.
I was recently in another country and took a lot of pictuers there. The few cops I saw had no problem with this; except one did did ask if we needed “guide” or wanted our own driver to take us to the “cool” places and recommended his buddy for just $10.00 a day. I’m sure they would bring us to places that would give them a kickback. Yeah it was a little weird, and it was a third world country, but we already had our own driver. But I also think that obvious tourists were off-limits as they brought so much money in to the area.
Back to the Wisconsin chief. It sounds to me like he needs to revisit his Oath of Office.