 |
| Rochester, NY Police officer J. Kompanijec texting on set of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" Photo by Davy V. |
When a Rochester, NY Police officer threatened an employee at the law firm of Rochester attorney Robert Brenna, with arrest, for simply leaning out of his office window to watch the action below during the filming of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2", despite that officer wearing a Rochester, NY Police uniform, he was actually working for Columbia Pictures.
When a cameraman from Rochester's Time Warner affiliate, YNN News, was told by Rochester Police officers that he was not allowed to shoot video, even though he was in a designated public viewing area, those RPD officers
And when Rochester, NY Police officer Richard Ortiz violated the RPD's Code of Ethics, specifically the part that states "I WILL never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions...", by telling me "I'm not talking to you!", because of who I am, and what I do, refusing to assist me, my two sons, ages 9 and 11, and my 12 year old niece, when I asked him where would be a safe place to stand to watch the Spiderman movie's first day of filming, even though officer Ortiz was donning an RPD uniform, in essence, he was also working for Hollywood.
When Rochester Police officer J. Kompanijec, seen in the second video below, also refused to talk to me as soon as he recognized who I was, he too was working for Columbia Pictures.
These Rochester, NY Police officers were part of the contractual agreement in which Columbia Pictures agreed to pay the City of Rochester for up to 100 RPD officers to basically serve as their own private security detail.
.jpg) |
| Rochester, NY Police officer watches filming of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2", working as a 'Rent-A-Cop' for Columbia Pictures. Photo by Davy V. |
A security detail which apparently included helping the Hollywood movie giant and "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" film production crew who came to Rochester to film a 10-day chase scene, walk a very thin line when it came to citizens' first amendment rights to photograph, and video record on a public sidewalk.
In a FOIA request made to the City of Rochester, documents show that Columbia Pictures paid Rochester Police officers a total of $281,751 to work as 'Rent-A-Cops.'
When news broke that Hollywood was looking to rent up to 100 City cops, Rochester, NY Police officers raced to sign up for positions which included "directing traffic", and "manning barriers", or as you can see in the third video below, more like 'moving barriers'.
Rochester Police officers had to love their 10 day gig.
Threatening innocent citizens with arrest for simply looking out of a windows.
Refusing to help a father with three young children find a safe place to watch filming.
Bark orders at a television news cameraman.
Overall, abuse and misuse your authority.
Move a few barriers.
And get to watch Spidey action while getting paid by Hollywood?
Not bad.
I mean, considering each Rochester, NY Police officer made at least $2,800.00 in overtime.
Not bad at all.
Click Play to watch video of Rochester, NY Police officer Richard Ortiz refusing to assist me and my children.
Click Play to watch Rochester, NY Police officer J. Kompanijec turn around and walk away as soon as he realizes who I am.
Click Play to watch Rochester, NY Police officers helping "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" film production crew.
Follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/davyvara
bullshit. They were doing their job. I was there. They only had to threaten someone with arrest when they refused to leave set when they were shooting. As for video recordings, it was their job to stop them, although as the shoot went on the production was more relaxed about it when they realized it was impossible. There were people hanging out buildings all the time, i talked to many of the cops who were very polite and friendly. And it's not part of their job to find places for sightseers to watch; this isn't not a football stadium. The film had a job to do on a limited schedule and they were there to keep it running smoothly. You should've seen just how rude some of the sightseers were.
ReplyDelete