thedailywhat:

Photography Is Not A Crime of the Day: Freelance news photographer Phil Datz, a credentialed member of the press from Long Island, was arrested last Friday while filming Suffolk County police activity on public property, and charged with obstruction of governmental administration.

It is explicitly legal to record police in public in the state of New York.

Following a statement from both the Press Club of Long Island and the National Press Photographers Association denouncing the arrest, Police Commissioner Richard Dormer released his own statement saying he was working with the Suffolk County district attorney to have all charges dropped.

Datz told Newsday he was “very encouraged” by Dormer’s statement, but had not personally heard back from the police.

Suffolk County PD refused to release the identity of the Fifth Precinct sergeant who made the arrest.

[poynter / newsday.]

See Also: What to do when police tell you to stop taking photos, video.