Omaha residents allowed to record police

A frame grab from a video posted on YouTube shows the scene at 33rd and Seward Streets on March 21.

Police officers in Omaha have been told to not interfere with citizens recording police activity, according to an article just published by The Omaha World Herald yesterday. This new department policy comes after four officers were fired last week after their innapropriate actions when they assaulted a citizen videotaping them make an arrest.

“Individuals have a First Amendment right to record police officers in the public discharge of their duties, plain and simple,” said Deputy Chief Greg Gonzalez.

As long as citizens stay behind caution tape and do not interfere with the officers then they are doing nothing wrong.

“If an officer is at a crime scene, and you're recording and cooperating with police, you're well within your legal right,” Gonzalez said.