This is part of what I recovered of the pictures that the Calgary Police Service (working with a private security company) forced me to "delete". Unfortunately, I seem to have permanently lost most of the image data (both missing whole images and most data in the two that survived). In a weird quirk, my camera's habit of frequently "freezing" and corrupting images, is what might have saved this image. My camera can't display corrupted images like this, so this appeared all black, during the review by the security guard. Previous to that, the cop who took my camera basically gave up on it, since the main display is dead, and he couldn't figure it out, leaving to the undereducated security guard. The good images, seem to be unrecoverable.
I was going home Sunday, July 19, 2009, walking West along 8 Avenue SW, about to cross 1 Street SE, and saw an apparent arrest.
A security guard (not visible) said the pictures I took didn't belong to me, and I wasn't allowed to have any of the images, and they'd have to be deleted.
Then, the other security guard (seen here) talked to a cop, who said it was ok for me to go, with the images, saying the first security person "misspoke".
Then, the next cop, said I couldn't leave with an image that's potential evidence. So, I would have to delete it, if I didn't want to lose my camera for a year. When I said it would be illegal to delete evidence, they said it wasn't evidence if it's deleted. Make sense?
Everybody is welcome and encouraged to freely copy this image, provided you credit me.
Basically, the police don't want independent observers. They want to be the sole source of the "truth".
Update: Metro News Calgary covered the incident in this article by Krista Sylvester, published Wednesday, July 22, 2009.
Update: This incident was covered in an article by Krista Sylvester, published in the Wednesday, July 22, 2009 edition of Metro News Calgary.
Photographer: Robert Thivierge
MiracleMachine, BigBull6, Hand Banana, and LanceSavage added this photo to their favorites.
Richard Selin 46 months ago | reply
The police (or private security) have no legal right to seize your camera on the spot or force you to delete images if they were taken on public property. If they believe your camera may contain evidence, they need to obtain a warrant to seize it. However, the jackbooted thugs often try to intimidate people who are not necessarily aware of their rights. I would not hesitate to sue in a case such as this.
discarted 41 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called NPRO - National Photographers' Rights Organization, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
jobhunt 26 months ago | reply
Maccon security is the worst security company in Alberta. it is no surprise that these guys are in the "middle" of a mess like this. They are extreme wannabee cops! I am sure the Police had nothing to hide, and some security goober doesn't speak for them, but no surprise that the Maccon guys were trying to play police...as usual!
Look at the photo...they are wearing more stuff on their belts then the cops! What are they carrying....kleenex...spare batteries for their flashlights? Ridiculous.
More importantly...WHY are the Maccon security guards using force on someone while the Police are there? It is on public property...they have no authority...the Police are there.....why is a Maccon security guard laying hands on anyone!? Looks like a good law suit to me!
Well done catching it on film!
jakejohnson8 4 days ago | reply
I like the security companies in Calgary, they do a great job. I have had a place come do some security for me once.