Officer Awareness
Police Tape
Android Smart Phone users can now tape and
record police activities. A free application (app) called
‘Police Tape’, was recently released by the American Civil
Liberties Union of New Jersey, and made available to
people who want to secretly record police activities
without the probability of the mobile device being seized.
This free app allows the user to secretly and
discreetly record video and audio of police activity. One
special feature is that once the app is activated, the app disappears from phone’s
screen. This app also has the capability to send a copy of the police action to ACLU
New Jersey for review and to determine if any civil liberties violations occurred.
This app is similar to ‘Stop and Frisk Watch App’ for Android that was released
in August, 2012 by ACLU New York. The ‘Stop and Frisk’ app was introduced
specifically for New Yorkers to record police actions for any form of misconduct and/or
civil liberties violations. By simply pushing a button on the phone’s frame, a New
Yorker can record a police action.
Both apps will notify other app users within a defined area if someone has
activated their app, with the exact location of the police action. This may result in
officer safety issues if community groups are able to pinpoint various police actions,
and respond to the location in the form of a flash mob. The app will stop recording
when the phone is shaken. The user will immediately receive a summary app to allow
them to narrate the police action. Once completed, the video and survey is
automatically forwarded to the ACLU, which will use the video and survey to hold the
police department accountable.
Recently, there was an encounter between Burbank PD patrol officers and a
suspect who had this app on his cell phone. It would appear that this app may be
available nation-wide.
Lt. Eric Deroian
Burbank PD
818-238-3130
Ederoian@ci.burbank.ca.us

Sources;

www.aclu-nj.org> Your Rights
www.nyclu.org

Prepared by;
Jeff Sharón CCIA, Criminal Intelligence Specialist III, LA CLEAR RAG, 323-869-2544, jeff.sharon@laclear.com

IS12-001
LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE
Form #13afd03e-a889-4676-9d10-3fdff450a1fe

September 22, 2012