Sounds like the "as advertised" run around. I love how now everyone has a "Department of Homeland Security". Another layer of inept government to suck up tax money and produce zero results.
The other thing that "amuses" me about situations like this is that John, myself and anyone interested with a camera have dozens of photos of the U.S. Capitol Police HAZ-MAT Pierce, as well as the FBI D.C. Field Office Pierce Command Center (which I might point out really IS an FBI vehicle as opposed to this thing) from Police Week in May. The FBI L.A. Field Office has a twin to the D.C. one (except it's blue) and it's made numerous appearances at open houses out there and it's usually all opened up for display.
PIOs in a Law Enforcement setting seem to serve little other purpose other than to tell you you can't do something you can do had you asked someone else. Some humorless drone stuck in a box with no windows who gets a power-rush by thinking he controls access to a piece of public property.
Figure out where the unit is stationed and who "commands" it. Start at the day shift driver and work your way up the ladder "backwards" dealing with the people who make day-to-day decisions and more than likely you'll get the photos you want, without signing anything. I know I've done that on a few things locally and the person who approves the photos is usually confused why your so frustrated when you get to them, as they don't realize someone within the bureacracy is making people jump through hoops of fire.
I had a dispatcher (of all people) toss me out of a small police department near Pittsburgh telling me I couldn't take photos because of departmental policy stating the only people permitted to do so were township employees (ie: the police officers) and the people who ran their website (which they don't even have). A quick chat on another day with the chief got me my photos and a befuddled look when I mentioned their "policy".
The other thing that "amuses" me about situations like this is that John, myself and anyone interested with a camera have dozens of photos of the U.S. Capitol Police HAZ-MAT Pierce, as well as the FBI D.C. Field Office Pierce Command Center (which I might point out really IS an FBI vehicle as opposed to this thing) from Police Week in May. The FBI L.A. Field Office has a twin to the D.C. one (except it's blue) and it's made numerous appearances at open houses out there and it's usually all opened up for display.
PIOs in a Law Enforcement setting seem to serve little other purpose other than to tell you you can't do something you can do had you asked someone else. Some humorless drone stuck in a box with no windows who gets a power-rush by thinking he controls access to a piece of public property.
Figure out where the unit is stationed and who "commands" it. Start at the day shift driver and work your way up the ladder "backwards" dealing with the people who make day-to-day decisions and more than likely you'll get the photos you want, without signing anything. I know I've done that on a few things locally and the person who approves the photos is usually confused why your so frustrated when you get to them, as they don't realize someone within the bureacracy is making people jump through hoops of fire.
I had a dispatcher (of all people) toss me out of a small police department near Pittsburgh telling me I couldn't take photos because of departmental policy stating the only people permitted to do so were township employees (ie: the police officers) and the people who ran their website (which they don't even have). A quick chat on another day with the chief got me my photos and a befuddled look when I mentioned their "policy".
-- James
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