Cop confrontation goes viral. What is your reaction to this video?

Something about this seems staged to me. How often do you just start filming for absolutely no reason and then wait to see if something happens? I wouldn't be surprised to find out this cop was baited, fake 911 call as an example. Car is illegally parked, they are filming before the cop even shows up, and the guy filming purposefully escalates the situation by refusing to do something as simple as take his hand out of his pocket (a request that is not illegal, unfair, immoral, or even unreasonable). Now if this is was not a set up and the cop just showed up and lost his mind, that is a huge issue.

However we are all here judging and condemning based on less then half the story.

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, I am going to arm chair this situation some more, but only because I have some LE experience. If I don't enough or strong enough PC then verbal judo which basically becomes casual conversation is very useful. Maybe the civilian was looking at his boat or something else which caught the attention of the police officer. He could have drove up and started a friendly conversation by complementing the civilian's boat, his SUV,or his house and branched out further with details as if he took an interest for personal curiosity. Non LEO folks do this all the time with friends, family, strangers and kids. From there, anyone can tell if something is off which might require LE intervention.

There is no excuse for this

I just watched the video. I do not have any knowledge of what may have happened between the police and the civilian. As we should know, it is not illegal to film the police in public nor to film the police from your private property. The police officer approached the civilian in a manner that tells me he is about to detain him. The civilian also probably felt intimidated and felt detained. The police do not need to tell you are being detained for they can do it through their actions. The police officer acted in an intimidating manner by using his pistol. I am pretty sure there is a rule in his SOP that says he is in violation nor could I tell he was in danger.

Someone needs to find a new career field and that PD needs to check on it's training standards. IMO

If it was to happen to me I know I found my next pay day.

The reduction of law enforcement reinforces the desire for vigilanteism.

I love that the cop asked "Are you some kind of constitutionalist?" As if that is a bad thing. Everyone on RP is a Constitutionalist. We swore an oath to support and defend that constitution. So for starters that officer implying that standing up for your constitutional rights makes you crazy, makes me wonder if he should have a badge and gun. He is one of the douche cops that makes it impossible for the good officers to do their job effectively; however, when the officer told the man to take his hands out of his pockets, he should have done so. Right or wrong, if the cop shoots you dead you still lose. He should have taken the officer's ID information and filed a report immediately after the encounter.
GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad

That is straight up little man syndrome to me. Officer did not say anything like most I have meet. I have been greeted by a simple how you doing everything okay. I would say just here hooking my boat. This yours yes sir it is. Officer never said reason for pulling up. Nor stated his reason for probable cause to question person. This officer was out line indeed I have had one rookie pull a weapon on me told him officer you pulled me over I have nothing against you but if you keep pointing that me. Which makes me nervous as a veteran if you keep doing this when backup arrived I stayed calm and spoke with other officers. They let me go with a citation. This officer should of been professional that is the problem with some officers the badge is right to bully who they want. very few of these guys but they do exist. sad when you see this.

Wow uncalled for by the police officer! I usually don't lead the charge on yelling "Fire Him" but "FIRE HIM!" That officer should not have pulled his gun unless his life or someone else life was in danger. A man with a camera does not make it so. And yes, most people on this page (me included) that a persons body language can tell you if their is intent of violence by the way a person acts and reacts to questions. This man's voice did not give off signs of any intent to cause a problem. He was on his own property filming...legal!