John Weston Osburn, News Photographer, Sues Oakland Cops for Being Too Aggressive

John Weston Osburn, News Photographer, Sues Oakland Cops for Being Too Aggressive

A news photographer is suing Oakland cops for allegedly employing their heavy-handed tactics, similar to the complaints we've heard from Occupy Oakland protesters.

The photographer, John Weston Osburn, a longtime member of Indybay Media, was covering a Oscar Grant protest in downtown Oakland on July 8, 2010 when police tackled him and wrongfully detained him, according to a lawsuit filed in Alameda County. The protest was in reaction to the involuntary manslaughter verdict handed down to BART Officer Johannes Mehserle, who shot and killed Grant on New Year's Day.

Osburn was covering the protest for the online news publication when he says he was singled-out by riot police, tackled and injured. Osburn says the cops pointed him out and then went after him, "maliciously and sadistically" twisting his wrists and handcuffing him so tightly he was severely injured, and unable to hold his camera to do his job.

He was charged with attempted arson and detained by the Oakland Police Department for five days, the claim states. Alex Katz, chief of staff of the Oakland City Attorney's Office, told SF Weekly last week that the city has not yet been served with the federal lawsuit, and therefore would not comment.

Calls to Osburn's attorneys went unreturned.

Osburn is suing the City of Oakland, Sgt. B. Ortiz, Officer J. Cunnie, and Lt. (fnu) Hamilton. He is seeking punitive damages for unreasonable seizure, and constitutional violations, including denial of due process.

Portland police keep number and location of video cameras private

Portland police keep number and location of video cameras private

The Portland Police Bureau, which won City Council approval in June to expand its use of video surveillance cameras, doesn't want the public to know how many cameras it has -- or where they're aimed.

The Oregonian recently asked the bureau to share details of its surveillance equipment. The bureau denied the newspaper's public-records request, citing an exemption in Oregon law that allows public agencies to withhold "investigative materials."

The lack of transparency raises questions about the city's possible surveillance of non-criminal activities, advocates for civil liberties and police oversight say.

"We should have a right to know how many cameras they have and how they're using them," said Becky Straus, legislative director for American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon.

The bureau's denial also comes as it increases reliance on digital technology to monitor the public. The bureau launched a pilot program last fall to test video cameras in patrol cars with the goal of equipping all patrol cars soon. Officers also have tested body-worn cameras.

Wednesday, the City Council will consider a Police Bureau request to add an SUV to its fleet to equip with a license plate recognition system for surveillance.

"What's the endpoint of all this?" asked Dan Handelman, an advocate for police oversight with Portland Copwatch. "Is it a camera in every house?"

Portland's turn toward video technology isn't exactly new. However, it's not clear whether the bureau now has a handful of cameras or hundreds.

Police Chief Mike Reese acknowledged in City Council testimony in May that the bureau has long used video cameras. Other agencies and businesses have them, too: on TriMet platforms, state highways, cash machines, government buildings and convenience stores, among other places.

"In our community, we have cameras everywhere," Reese said. "I think sometimes we don't realize how much technology has progressed in the last few decades."

Video surveillance is widespread among law enforcement agencies elsewhere, including New York, Chicago and London. Small-town Pendleton installed video cameras in 2009 so cops could remotely monitor hot spots.

Pendleton Mayor Phillip Houk said the program -- still in effect -- is working, although he noted that Pendleton has far less crime than cities such as Portland. Pendleton also uses signs to remind people they might be on camera.

"It really has made a difference," Houk said. "To me, it creates a real opportunity for the safety of citizens when they know they might be monitored."

The Oregonian's request for information followed the City Council's decision in June to allow police and private property owners to install cameras in Old Town/Chinatown. The goal, police said, is to monitor drug deals or other crimes.

So far, police have approved at least one camera under the program -- at Boxer Northwest, the restaurant supply store at 438 N.W. Broadway. Lt. Robert King, a police spokesman, said sharing that location did not comprise any ongoing investigations.

But further disclosures, he said, could undermine criminal cases.

Police Tape app from NJ ACLU offers yet another way to document inappropriate police conduct

The American Civil Liberties Union has taken its police accountability initiative to the shores of New Jersey with the release of Police Tape, an app that lets "opportunistic citizen journalists" record their encounters with law enforcement. Now available for Android (and coming soon for iOS), it's just the latest in a stream of similar apps that aim to expose instances of police misconduct. Previous examples include Stop & Frisk Watch — produced in tandem with the NYCLU — and OpenWatch. Police Tape was developed by the same team as OpenWatch and thus shares much of its functionality, including discreet video and audio recording capabilities. Clips can be saved locally to your device and users can also opt to upload them directly to the NJ ACLU's servers for review. Further, deleting content is a multi-step process that Police Tape's developers have intentionally made complicated to prevent officers from destroying evidence. Apart from its watchdog features, the app also offers a built-in tutorial that covers general civil rights. This "reverse surveillance" technique has garnered its fair share of controversy, but both the White House and federal courts have come to bat for a citizen's right to record altercations with on-duty police officers. Police Tape is available now via Google Play and is due to arrive on iOS later this month.