Legislation: Help for Citizen Harmed by Those Who Vowed to Serve and Protect

The Lakers wear their “Black Mamba” jerseys’ with a heart and the number two placed on it to represent the loss of their beloved team member, Kobe Bryant, and his daughter Gianna, who died this past January in a tragic helicopter crash. Saying goodbye to Kobe and his daughter this year has been truly heartbreaking. As details of their crash investigation continues, it’s been disappointing to hear that there were unauthorized photos and videos released taken by police officers in an unofficial capacity.

Eight officers from the Los Angeles Police Department were accused of taking graphic photos of the crash scene. Though the officers can’t possibly be punished for their actions, according to the County Sheriff, the policy of taking and sharing photos only applied to accidents and not crime scenes. Officers take an oath to serve and protect. This oath should automatically extend to the dignity of fellow human beings especially since officers are first responders and often see some people at their worst.

“The source that I saw them on a couple of hours after the crash is gone, but I can tell you they aren’t worth seeing. I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way cause I’m a huge Kobe fan and mourned his death for weeks and still am,” said Kevin Durant, in March, two months after the crash.

Regarding the officer’s behavior, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, approved legislation, making it a crime in California for first responders on accidents and crime scenes to take unauthorized photos of deceased people. The law taking effect January 2021 will include misdemeanor fines up to $1,000 per photo other than the official crime scene photos.

Vanessa, Bryant’s widow sued the department over the photos, stating how she was “absolutely devasted” by these allegations and that someone would even take these graphic photos.

Hopefully this law will help protect other families from experiencing more emotional pain by members of the community who vowed to serve and protect.

Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kobe-bryant-crash-scene-photos-new-california-law/

https://www.etonline.com/kobe-bryant-crash-scene-photo-scandal-leads-to-new-california-law-153867