The Cinematographer Was Uncooperative

I went to bed last night and somehow I woke up in North Korea:

In response to a flood of Facebook and YouTube videos that depict police abuse, a new trend in law enforcement is gaining popularity. In at least three states, it is now illegal to record any on-duty police officer.

Even if the encounter involves you and may be necessary to your defense, and even if the recording is on a public street where no expectation of privacy exists.

Putting aside for the moment that the idea that cops (and everyone else) aren't going to be videotaped by civilians everywhere—and in HD!—is laughable at best, this is just downright unconstitutional, counterproductive, and if I may steal a phrase from my friends on the right, positively UnAmerican!  Police officers and other authorities have really, really hard jobs.  They do something every single day that most people are loathe to do even just a little bit.  They interface with the general public about the general public's problems.  I understand the want to make the jobs of law enforcement officers easier, but you can't take away the "public" part.  That's the part that gives them their authority and that's the part they are sworn to protect.