• International
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Books
  • Television
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
CN News Today: Latest News Online
Copyright
Privacy Policy
  • International
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Books
  • Television
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
CN News Today: Latest News Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Television
Shows Like ‘Cops’ Fell Out of Favor. Now Texas May Ban Them.

Shows Like ‘Cops’ Fell Out of Favor. Now Texas May Ban Them.

CN News Today: Latest News Online by CN News Today: Latest News Online
May 21, 2021
in Television
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0

Two years ago, a television crew gathered in the small city of Hawkins, Texas, to film the life and work of Manfred Gilow, the chief of police there.

Cameras followed Chief Gilow as he and his officers responded to calls, snapped handcuffs onto wrists and searched vehicles for drugs. The program was not available on Texas televisions; Chief Gilow is from Germany, and that is where “Der Germinator” (a portmanteau of “German” and “The Terminator”) was broadcast.

Last year, after the nationally broadcast policing shows “Cops” and “Live PD” were canceled, “Der Germinator” filmed a second season. But prospects for a third may have dimmed last week, when the Texas Legislature passed a bill that would make it illegal for law enforcement agencies to authorize reality television crews to film officers on duty.

“Policing is not entertainment,” said James Talarico, the Democratic state representative who introduced the legislation. The office of Gov. Greg Mr. Abbott, a Republican, did not respond to requests for comment this week about whether he would sign the legislation.

Reality law enforcement shows, Mr. Talarico said, “rely on violent encounters between citizens and the police to boost their own ratings.” He cited an investigation by The Austin American-Statesman, which reported last year that law enforcement officers in Williamson County, Texas, were more violent when the “Live PD” cameras were rolling.

The bill, which the Legislature passed with bipartisan support on May 13, is named after Javier Ambler II, a 40-year-old father of two who died in 2019 after Williamson County officers forcibly arrested him in front of a “Live PD” camera crew.

Mr. Ambler’s sister, Kimberly Ambler-Jones, 39, said she believed that her brother would still be alive if the television crews had not been filming. “Because they had ‘Live PD’ there, it had to be hyped up,” she said. “It had to be drama.”

That show was taken off the air in June. So was “Cops,” which had beamed arrests, confrontations and car chases to televisions across the United States for decades.

The cancellations came amid nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. They also followed years of campaigning by the racial justice organization Color of Change, which had been pushing networks to drop “Cops” since at least 2013.

Arisha Hatch, the organization’s vice president and chief of campaigns, said the shows were one-sided and served as propaganda for law enforcement.

“They violate the civil liberties of people who are forced to become the stars of the show,” she said. “They operate to make a joke about how Black communities and poor communities are overpoliced.”

Ms. Hatch welcomed the Texas bill, noting that the state-level legislative approach appeared to be without precedent.

But with two flagship policing programs already canceled, it is unclear whether the law would have any immediate effect if approved by Governor Abbott.

A reality series set in Texas called “Lone Star Law,” on Animal Planet, could most likely continue filming as long as it keeps its focus on wildlife and game wardens, Mr. Talarico said.

“Der Germinator,” on the other hand, could be at risk.

Chief Gilow argued that the program should be allowed to continue, characterizing it as more of a documentary than a reality show. He said it offered German viewers a glimpse of life in the United States, as well as a cautionary tale about the consequences of crime.

“I think it is positive,” Chief Gilow said. “But you will have some people just hating it because they hate the police.” He added that the show did not violate anyone’s rights and blurred the faces of people who did not consent to be filmed.

Ms. Ambler-Jones said she hoped that Mr. Abbott would sign the bill — and that similar legislation would spread beyond Texas.

“I know people feel like this is just entertainment,” she said of reality policing programs. “But you don’t understand what the person on the other side of that camera is dealing with.”

For months after Mr. Ambler’s death, his family did not know what had happened to him — only that he had died in law enforcement custody. The details became public last year, after The Austin American-Statesman and the news outlet KVUE obtained body camera footage.

Mr. Ambler was driving in the Austin area on March 28, 2019, when Williamson County deputies tried to stop him because he did not dim his headlights to traffic, officials said. After deputies tried to pull Mr. Ambler over, the authorities said, he kept driving for more than 20 minutes before crashing his vehicle.

The body camera footage showed that the officers restrained Mr. Ambler and used a Taser on him multiple times. “I have congestive heart failure,” Mr. Ambler could be heard saying. “I can’t breathe.”

Mr. Ambler was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. “Live PD” footage of the arrest was never broadcast on television.

Since then, Williamson County officials have faced several lawsuits related to reality television footage. Two deputies were indicted on second-degree manslaughter charges in Mr. Ambler’s death, and the former county sheriff, who lost his seat after a November election, was indicted on charges of evidence tampering. All have pleaded not guilty.

A spokeswoman for Williamson County declined to comment because of pending litigation. Big Fish Entertainment, the production company behind “Live PD,” did not immediately respond to emailed questions.

Mr. Talarico said he hoped the legislation, if signed into law by the governor, would keep “Cops” and “Live PD” out of Texas for good. “Without the force of law, there’s nothing preventing these shows from coming back,” he said, “except for their own conscience.”

Previous Post

How Military Quagmires Have Caught Mighty Powers by Surprise

Next Post

You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Title

Related Posts

Batgirl director reveals Marvel boss Kevin Feige reached out to him after film was axed
Television

Batgirl director reveals Marvel boss Kevin Feige reached out to him after film was axed

by CN News Today: Latest News Online
August 7, 2022
0

The rival studio's head was sympathetic about their situation.

Read more
Keke Palmer speaks out on life as a child star: ‘What you later envision as a memory is actually trauma’

Keke Palmer speaks out on life as a child star: ‘What you later envision as a memory is actually trauma’

August 7, 2022
12 films that were axed and never released just like Batgirl

12 films that were axed and never released just like Batgirl

August 6, 2022
Inside the making of Thirteen Lives – from Viggo Mortensen learning how to cave dive to needing a specially-built set

Inside the making of Thirteen Lives – from Viggo Mortensen learning how to cave dive to needing a specially-built set

August 6, 2022

Recent News

SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav to Start Tiranga Campaign with Padayatra from Kannauj, Meet Families of Freedom Fighters

SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav to Start Tiranga Campaign with Padayatra from Kannauj, Meet Families of Freedom Fighters

August 8, 2022
Money Laundering Case: ED to Produce Sanjay Raut Before Special Court in Mumbai

Money Laundering Case: ED to Produce Sanjay Raut Before Special Court in Mumbai

August 8, 2022
As ‘RCP Row’ Unravels Threads of Coalition Fabric in Bihar, RJD Waits on Side With Stitching Needle

As ‘RCP Row’ Unravels Threads of Coalition Fabric in Bihar, RJD Waits on Side With Stitching Needle

August 8, 2022
TMC Leader Anubrata Mondal to Appear Before CBI Today in Cattle Smuggling Case

TMC Leader Anubrata Mondal to Appear Before CBI Today in Cattle Smuggling Case

August 8, 2022
SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav to Start Tiranga Campaign with Padayatra from Kannauj, Meet Families of Freedom Fighters

SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav to Start Tiranga Campaign with Padayatra from Kannauj, Meet Families of Freedom Fighters

August 8, 2022
Money Laundering Case: ED to Produce Sanjay Raut Before Special Court in Mumbai

Money Laundering Case: ED to Produce Sanjay Raut Before Special Court in Mumbai

August 8, 2022
Beautiful during sunrise with illuminated buildings on the River Thames at Tower Bridge and Financial district in City of London, England.
CN News Today: Latest News Online

CN News Today: Latest News Online
View the latest news and breaking news today for U.S., world, weather, entertainment, politics and health at News Today

No Result
View All Result
  • International
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Books
  • Television
  • Contact

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT