Memphis Police, After Hip-Hop Controversy, Told To Not Arrest Civilians Who Film Them

A couple of months back, hip hop artists claimed they were victimized by Memphis Police while having a gathering in Downtown Memphis, TN on Main Street in front of K’PreSha.

The hip hop artists claim the police used excessive force when confronting them about a noise complaint.

The incident led to one artist being pepper sprayed and another one arrested and the incident was caught on cell phones by bystanders at the gathering.

Police confronted patrons filming the incident which has now led to police officers being instructed that they should not arrest civilians who film them, after complaints were made.

A “policy” has now been passed since the incident stating that the general public has a First Amendment right to video record, photograph, and/or audio record MPD members while members are conducting official business or while acting in an official capacity in any public space, unless such recordings interfere with police activity.

There are several regulations included in the “Policy and Procedure Information and Updates” on public recording including, a bystander has the same right to take photographs and or make recordings as member of media, as long as the bystander has a legal right to be present where he or she is located. The settings that are public include examples such as parks, sidewalks, streets and locations of public protests and extends to a person home or business, etc.