Students Learn Rights and the Right Way to Deal with Police

The rights students have when it comes to the law were discussed Wednesday in the Quinipiac University School of Law.

The event, "Don't Get Busted!" was sponsored by the QU Young Americans for Liberty, Sigma Phi Epsilon, WQAQ, the Society, Life and Justice Club as well as the QU Irish Club.

William Palmieri, a New Haven civil rights attorney, was on hand to answer questions student's raised about their rights. According to Palmieri, citizens have the right to video tape police officers as long as they don't interfere with police duties, and also stressed that many New Haven police officers are carrying recording devices on their uniform. Palmieri spoke to the students about their rights when video taping just weeks after an altercation erupted involving two Quinnipiac students, in which one student was told he wasn't allowed to tape police action. Both students were subsequently arrested.

A video "10 Rules for Dealing with Police," shown at the beginning of the event relayed to students they have the right to not consent to search requested by a police officer, or the right to refuse to show identification while walking down the street.

According to the video, the only setting where you can get in trouble with the law for not displaying identification is when driving. This was good news for students like sophomore communications major Kacie Bogan, who made it clear that she will exercise their newly-realized rights.

"Good, now I'll never consent," Bogan said, half-joking.

The video also included tips when encountering police such as never lay your hands on a cop, never resist arrest and never run. Also, people shouldn't get into a verbal confrontation with an officer, even if they know the officer is behaving unlawfully. Those who believe an officer acted unlawfully should take note of everything that occurred. It is also important to get the names of any witnesses, especially if they were recording the incident.

Many students took valuable knowledge with them from the event.

"I didn't think I had the right to refuse," said junior psychology major Atalia Conroy.

Sophomore psychology major Jackie Owens said the video taught her how "to be calm, cool and collective" when dealing with a police officer.