Photographer Defeats Unlawful NYPD Search in 7 Seconds
May 14, 2015
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Recently it seems like every other day there’s a story in the headlines about police officers abusing their power and violating civil rights.
Shawn Randal Thomas, an event photographer from New York City, is the kind of person who fights for his rights and firmly believes in civilian oversight.
As such his YouTube channel hosts a variety of videos recording law enforcement officers during one activity or another, pointing fingers at those he thinks are bad apples.
This probably won’t come to you as a surprise, but spending so much time around cops and always against them won’t get you on their good list. In fact, Thomas has been arrested six times (as of May 2014); though no matter the charge he was never found guilty.
The video below, which has been viewed 380,000 times in just 4 days, shows Thomas putting his knowledge of the law, experience and what many think is a too-large serving of disrespect, to brush off a couple of NYPD officers who ask what he’s carrying in his bag.
While he succeeded to avoid answering the cops’ question and was left alone, one must wonder if his provocative behavior doesn’t attract police and give photographers a bad name.
The video contains profanity, so be NSFW-warned:
“Shawn, what you got in your bag,” an officer asks Thomas, who did not seem surprised by the question and had his strongly worded response prepared:
“None of your f***ing business, that’s what I have in the bag. Honor your oath, scumbag!”
As mentioned above, some people believe Thomas’ behavior is disrespectful, but he disagrees:
“I have never been rude, or ‘disrespectful’ to any police officer unless that police officer was actively engaged in acts of treason. In such cases, it is my patriotic duty to respond in such a manner”.
Do you think that’s an appropriate response or is Thomas pushing it?
[via PetaPixel]
Liron Samuels
Liron Samuels is a wildlife and commercial photographer based in Israel. When he isn’t waking up at 4am to take photos of nature, he stays awake until 4am taking photos of the night skies or time lapses. You can see more of his work on his website or follow him on Facebook.
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40 responses to “Photographer Defeats Unlawful NYPD Search in 7 Seconds”
Geez, that guy gives all photographers a bad name.
Agreed. Its not worth the hassle of what could potentially follow after using such language especially so because of recent events involving law enforcement and citizens.
Yes, and it is about common decency – and cause and effect. I can verbally abuse someone on a street, and they still have no right to beat me up. BUT… I shouldn’t be shocked if it happens.
So, photographers’ good name is being a coward? I really don’t ever want to be a photographer then.
So you are coward unless you are an a-hole, shouting verbal abuse? You have a lot to learn about what ‘coward’ means.
Good for him. I’m a fan.
Good for him? I didn’t know you were a fan of douchebags.
Sorry, but there’s a middle ground that doesn’t include disrespect. Years ago a cop yanked film from my camera after i shot his illegal car search. But that has been my only negative interaction with cops. Other times I’ve shown them respect and received it in return. I won’t condone unlawful actions by police, but I won’t condone antagonizing anyone, either.
You’re white. and old. You don’t fit a demographic that’s constantly dealing with this bullshit on a day to day basis for no reason other than profiling and harassment. There was no ‘antagonizing’ unless you mean asking a guy what’s in his bag for no real reason. There was a guy pissed off the cops asked him what’s in his bag. Was he over the top? maybe. I once got pulled over 4….FOUR times in 1 hour in the same town for a headlight out. by the 4th time I was a bit testy.
Rob, I don’t believe in profiling, but know it’s a fact of life (white & old?). I know there’s a lot of discussion about cops confiscating cameras of law-abiding citizens who are shooting arrests or police confrontations, which is very troubling. But whether or not I want to respond to a question about my camera bag contents, I can still remain respectful, especially if I am photographing near police or fire activity. To me it’s common sense.
He wants his 15 seconds of fame, he’s got his 15 seconds of fame. Sooner or later it is going to come crashing down. This is bad for all photographers.
Give it a rest, will you? What “knowledge of the law” did he exhibit? There was no search, just a question about the contents of his bag. He had the right to refuse, but to do so with profanity and disrespect does no one, especially other photographers, any good. And there was no “act of treason”, Mr. Law Knowledge. “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.” (US Constitution, Art III, Sec 3) Asking someone about the contents of their bag hardly rises to that level. All I see is a self-centered provocateur, not a civil rights warrior.
Maybe the officer’s hobby is photography and he was asking to see what kind of gear the photographer shoots with. Nikon? Canon? What lenses? Maybe. Whatever the reason, there’s no need to be a dick or be disrespectful by resorting to name-calling… especially since the officer appears to abandon his request and lose interest after being denied.
Then ask it like that. If we’re going on “maybes” “maybe” that was the 4th time that guy was profiled for no reason that day and he was fed up with it.
And maybe he had a pound of heroine stuffes inside a severed head in his bag. We can go on “maybe road” forever and it still wont change the fact that NO ONE was “profiled” in this video. The guy was a douche.
Uncool. No need to be a d*ck. Just means those cops’ll pay it forward. He’s part of the problem.
“actively engaged in acts of treason” my a$$.
Pushing it…
He can act like an idiot all he likes, but its not going to get him far in life. He should understand there’s a bit of give and take in most situations.
The police officer in this video did NOTHING illegal.
It is not illegal or unconstitutional for any law enforcement officer to ask to search your bag, car or even your home. It is your right to refuse a search with out a warrant. If the officer(s) continue with a warrantless search after you have declined then, and ONLY THEN, is it illegal and unconstitutional. If you consent to the search it is completely legal and anything they find can be held against you.
The officer in this video acts in a perfectly legal and proper manner. He even shows a fair amount of restraint in not responding to the insults this so called professional photographer throws at him.
A fair amount of restrain is what most people would call being a civilized human being. It’s too bad people are so cowardly towards law enforcement that they’d be thankful not to be abused.
It would help to see this encounter from the beginning…
What a complete D-Bag. Some day he’s going to need help or protection, and police officers will provide it, even though this is the static they get from this guy. Shame on him.
That’s called doing their job like they are supposed to.
The guy is a tool. The cop did nothing wrong, the photographer is a jerk.
The headline bugs me as well. It wasnt an illegal search – it was a question. Anyone can ask “whats in the bag” – cops dont have more rights than us, but the also don’t have LESS. If we look at this more along the lines of one human being being a total douche to another human being – maybe that would help.
Stupid. It”s NOT an illegal search, it was just a question and his name calling is deplorable. The officer should be commended for his professionalism. This has nothing to do with photography, so why post this nonsense on your page?
Gotta love that NY mott’s . And for the record they are public servants!
It is people like this guy that uses his own bad behavior to get hits on YouTube and attention FOR HIMSELF, instead of trying to make a difference in a positive way! He doesn’t care about real victims, he’s ALL ABOUT HIMSELF!
Fix your FUCKING headline, it’s misleading and wrong.
The guy is being an ass–full stop…
Well done to the cops. Taking that abuse and not reacting shows some restraint.
This is all set up. How does the cop know his name is Shawn and why is the cop holding back a smile when he asks the question? I don’t believe this is real for a second.
Visit Shawn’s facebook page or read more about him – he stalks police like a paparazzi stalks celebrities. He’s well known to them.
Clickbait troll post.
The headline is misleading – It wasn’t 7 seconds – don’t give this disrespectful ‘photographer’ undeserved credit. Please see the full version of the video.
No matter what your stance is on the issue, there is no reason to call an officer ‘n*gger” as he does in the longer video of this incident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkQJXRLpucY
They have a right to ask, he has a right to refuse, but there is never a call for this type of disrespect unless you are trying to instigate a problem.
Defending your rights does not require being a douche. And use of the word “treason” in this context pretty much tells you all you need to know about this “photographer”.
So ¿What was in the Bag ?
Maybe it’s been said, I’m not gonna scroll through all the angry troll replies but maybe, just maybe there is more to this interaction than the 7 second video posts. Just playing devil’s advocate, maybe the cops were shit heads right before the video picks up. Otherwise this is a poor excuse for journalism and straight clickbait.
I expect more relevant post from DiyPhotografy. I’m interested in photography. This has very little to do with the subject. Beside that, I don’t wish to watch people misbehaving, photographer or not. Again, his deplorable behavior has nothing to do with photography.
Sometimes it feels like you’re deliberately trying to alienate and anger readers.