Cop can be punished for sharing video on Facebook

Lawyer’s ‘cuss out’ saga

The traffic rank who posted on Facebook a video of Attorney-at-law Ryan Crawford “cussing” him out after being stopped could face disciplinary charges for acting in what has been described as an unprofessional manner by ‘C’ Division Commander Calvin Brutus.
Commander Brutus told this publication on Saturday that even though the video could be used as evidence in court, the rank would be subjected to departmental charges for posting the video on social media.
“There is a process to deal with that image that was recorded. Because it becomes evidence in a case like that, releasing it without permission or without the matter being properly investigated is not appropriate, and it falls under our disciplinary code,” he told this publication.
Nevertheless, Commander Brutus stressed that there is no regulation prohibiting anybody from videoing anything. Road users can also video Police officers while they are preforming their duties, or if they feel subjected to mistreatment.
Further, departmental charges mean that the traffic rank could be subjected to suspension, or to not being considered for promotion over the next two years.
The commander disclosed that a file has been submitted to the Legal Practitioner’s Association in order to facilitate that body taking legal action against Attorney Crawford.
Accompanied by a battery of lawyers, Attorney Ryan Crawford appeared on Friday before Vigilance Magistrate Peter Hugh and denied five charges with which he was slapped for reportedly verbally abusing the policeman. The charges stated as follows: that on September 13, at the Yorkshire Public Road in Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, he 1: failed to produce his driver’s licence when asked to do so; 2: drove an unfit motor vehicle; 3: used obscene language; 4: behaved in a riotous manner. A charge of prohibition of tinted glass was also slapped on him.
Presiding Magistrate Peter Hugh subsequently released the lawyer on his own recognisance. The case will continue on October 10.