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No disrespect for John Amory, who seemed to have good intentions. However, the final section of @ktyschwnk's latest article really illustrates something that we talk about a lot in our trainings... https://vtdigger.org/2021/02/08/new-footage-shows-moments-before-burlington-officers-shocked-teen-with-stun-gun/ /1
...and that's being diligent when sharing footage from watching cops (and, more broadly, about working "outside the system"). /2
Amory filmed BPD cops Byrne and O'Leary tackling and electrocuting a black teenager. Concerned, he decided to submit a complaint to the police commission, and attached his footage. /3
There may be a few good individuals on the police commission, but the commission is part of the city government. So of course the footage quickly fell into the hands of the police themselves. /4
Interim Chief Jon Murad said he was "grateful" for the footage, and that it supported police' accusation that Mbyayenge had punched an officer. /5
And so now state's attorney Sarah George may have the evidence that she needs to convict this teenager of a serious felony. That would mean more than one year of prison time, plus lifetime sanctions, and is something that can seriously fuck up a person's entire life. /6
This is why we urge cop watchers to *never* share footage with third parties without explicit consent from all of the non-cops who were involved. That means no social media posts, no emails to journalists, and no police complaints, until you've gotten consent. /7
This is a small town, and often it's possible to contact victims through the grapevine. We can always try help with that. /8
If you film an incident like this, please take time to consider all of the repercussions that your footage could have. The system exists to keep poor and black and brown people in their place, and it will absolutely use your footage of "police brutality" to do so. /9
Also, the violence appears to have been completely "justified" - by the book - as far as the state is concerned. So footage that might land a black teenager in jail won't even get these cops a slap on the wrist.
