[Scan-DC] Alan Henney making news

[Doug Kitchener]

Doesn't surprise me.. somebody needs to rattle the cages of the police forces and wannabees around here - I'm convinced that some of them are on power trips and or have guilty consciences about the way they sling people around, deservedly or not.  (I realize that there are some law enforcement folks on here and I know that there are some good ones and some bad ones, as in any endeavor.  And I can also say that I do know a [very] little bit about it and for the most part it's not a job I'd want to do.  In other words, I don't want to be perceived as quick to criticize, or a second-guesser.)  OTOH, we went through some similar BS at the community college where I work - a student who was using the computer lab got nasty with one of our student aides, and other people in the lab started recording it with their cell phones... point is that you never know when you're gonna be on stage, no matter who or where you are.  We had a discussion about this and similar things at work the other day (also on Sunday when some of us Scan-DC'rs got together)... all these hand-held gadgets have changed the world that we live in... not necessarily always for the better (to say nothing of the changes wrought by 9/11).

********

I don't know how many of you have seen the reports that Alan files from the beach during the summer, but he does an excellent job - from many of the photos, it's obvious that he's often right in the thick of things.  Apparently he's pretty well known there, but I've often wondered whether he's been hassled occasionally... hang in there, Alan, and as Andy said, nice job.

DK

----------------------------------------
> From: w4jecom at w4je.com
> To: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:24:26 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Alan Henney making news
>
> Nice job Alan.
>
> I'm a supporter of the police, but I am surprised that they aren't more
> aware of citizens' rights with regard to filming in public.
>
> I used to do a lot of photography around the DC area (monuments, etc.), but
> I got so tired of being harassed by police and security guards (usually
> federal) who kept telling me I wasn't allowed to photograph this or that, or
> set up a tripod here or there, that I gave up. One Sunday morning I was
> shooting sunrise pictures on the steps of the Supreme Court. No-one there
> but me and an unfriendly police officer who came out of nowhere and
> threatened to put me in jail if I didn't pack up my camera and leave. And
> this was long before 9/11 -- I'm sure it's gotten a lot worse.
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Thomas P. Clouse" <tom at clouse.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 10:30 AM
> To: "Scan DC" <scan-dc at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: [Scan-DC] Alan Henney making news
>
> > Cathy Lanier apologizes to Alan . . .
> >
> > http://www.wtop.com/?nid=109&sid=2649113