I saw a video of a guy videotaping the entrance to a Navy base. What does this do to our security protocols? How do we handle this?

2016-04-29T09:27:30-04:00

I understand, and support their 1st amendment right of the press. I know that the Supreme Court has decided that if someone is on a public sidewalk they can film in any direction they want, and that no person or entity has a reasonable expectation of privacy in a public place.

What does this do to our security protocols, and how to we professionally deal with these situations?

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Apr 29 at 2016 9:37 AM

2016-04-29T09:37:46-04:00

IMO, notify the MPs or SP about this person and have them monitor that situation

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2016 9:38 AM

2016-04-29T09:38:01-04:00

that device should of been confiscated and turned into MP's and he should of been reported to police.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Apr 29 at 2016 9:41 AM

2016-04-29T09:41:38-04:00

I think if there is video of him videoing, then we are aware of what he was doing. This not something new. I would be more concerned of someone who was not out in the open.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Apr 29 at 2016 10:08 AM

2016-04-29T10:08:50-04:00

It means that security at bases shouldn't rely on what is publicly seen from the street. That should just be the public facing facade.

Otherwise does that mean we arrest people who take pictures with their kids in front of the White House? That's an awful direction for our country to take. It just means security should be more nuance than what you see at the gate.

Response by SFC Wade W. made Apr 29 at 2016 10:15 AM

2016-04-29T10:15:58-04:00

Most installations have signs posted about this very thing. That being said it is normally OK for the gates to have photos taken for news and personal use (I was here). If there are no signs about photos being prevented then nothing can be done. As a 25 yr MP I have dealt with this quite often. Before 9/11 many CONUS Army posts were open (no fences) and people took photos of a lot of things that they shouldn't have. When in doubt though, report it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2016 10:29 AM

2016-04-29T10:29:37-04:00

The problem is how we construct the base the gate should no be visible from the public space so we don't have this problem.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2016 10:44 AM

2016-04-29T10:44:29-04:00

As an MP on base, we have observed that kind of activity. While still observing constitutional rights, WE have the right to investigate. There is nothing wrong with sending MP's to politely ask questions about why they are taking photos/video. On one occasion, it was actually a camera crew doing a report for school or something similar. If the response is given politely and the answer is sensible, "have a nice day. We appreciate your cooperation and we hope you understand why we approached you."

If it gets ugly and they are combative, try to get the license place/ID as normally and log it in. Depending on clues, intuition etc, it may be something to share with local PD and local fusion center.

No rights have been violated, our presence and vigilance is observed by would be bad guys, and we have done our job.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2016 12:05 PM

2016-04-29T12:05:52-04:00

report it to cid let them deal with it, its thier job

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Apr 29 at 2016 12:25 PM

2016-04-29T12:25:13-04:00

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Apr 29 at 2016 12:28 PM

2016-04-29T12:28:23-04:00

Before i retired, I used to see regularly NCIS reports about local base entrances being video taped. It really spiked post 9/11. When in doubt notify base security/local law enforcement. Vast majority of the time it's something innocuous, but you can never be to careful these days.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2016 1:26 PM

2016-04-29T13:26:22-04:00

Report it to the Military Police and/or Public Affairs, they may have already coordinated with Public Affairs and/or what their doing may be perfectly legal. Doesn't hurt to report it just in case their crossing a line.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 29 at 2016 2:11 PM

2016-04-29T14:11:24-04:00

Return the Favor, Take Video and still's of the Individual, note height weight and as much as you can so you can see if he/she is a repeat customer. If you suspect something pass all of what you noted to the appropriate military and or civilian authorities.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Apr 29 at 2016 2:57 PM

2016-04-29T14:57:14-04:00

Get a description of this person (or a photo) and contact PMO. It's their job to sort out the details.

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Apr 29 at 2016 5:19 PM

2016-04-29T17:19:56-04:00

Any individual has a right to photograph what he can see in public, with very limited exceptions. 18 U.S.C. § 795 provides that the President can prohibit photography of military installations, and has done so with E.O. 10104 (1950). The problem that most base security/military police don't understand is that E.O. 10104 only prohibits the photography of "classified" equipment and structures.

So photography of a base entry control point is not a violation, while photography of a B-2 being loaded with nukes would be a violation.

From a security standpoint and from a legal standpoint, you can ask the individual to identify themselves but you can't seize their property (i.e., their camera). You have to comply with the law, and in most places, military personnel do not have the authority to detain someone off-base and civilian authorities cannot detain them absent reasonable, articulable suspicion that they have either committed or are about to commit a crime.

So if they are photographing the base entrance, smile, wave at them, and if you are really concerned, call the local cops to contact them. That puts the liability on the local cops, and not on you or the base.

P.S. - On base is a different matter. You'll want to check with your local MP/SP and/or JAG.

Response by MSG Pat Colby made Apr 29 at 2016 6:40 PM

2016-04-29T18:40:42-04:00

Check his ID. If his name involves "mohammed", just shoot his ass.

Response by CAPT Don Bosch, EdD made May 5 at 2016 8:13 AM

2016-05-05T08:13:18-04:00

Got a smartphone? Quietly snap a pic and mail it to your security office. #SeeSomethingSaySomething

Response by CAPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2016 8:24 AM

2016-05-05T08:24:05-04:00

The basic answer is "It depends." Things to consider: Where is the base located? Is it a regular occurrence for people to photograph the base's entrance? The answers to those questions should influence the extent of the base security's reaction. As a former Navy Security Det OIC, we had SOPs in place to address surveillance/counter-surveillance of entry control points (ECP). As some of the other respondents have already stated, you try to set up your ECP so that a bare minimum of your entry control procedures are visible from a distance.

Response by LT John Stevens made May 5 at 2016 11:16 AM

2016-05-05T11:16:57-04:00

I believe that all citizens have a responsibility to report activities that they may believe COULD be associated with future terrorist acts. The First Amendment here is moot from your perspective. You have an obligation to report the activity to appropriate authorities. Those authorities have the obligation to investigate and to determine whether the individual was only exercising his First Amendment Right or was conducting surveillance in support of a planned or potential attack.

Every successful attack on US soil since 9/11 has been preceded by suspicious activities that were observed by others who out of apathy or fear of ridicule failed to report to appropriate authorities. Report it.

Response by PO3 Jerry C. Hayes made May 5 at 2016 11:22 AM

2016-05-05T11:22:34-04:00

There are exceptions::: try filming or photos out side the gates at Area 51... not a good idea.
Not really on subject but there are exceptions to the 1st.. according who is running the "show"!!

Response by LCDR Dave Spurlock made May 8 at 2016 2:17 AM

2016-05-08T02:17:15-04:00

No, that is a violation of federal statue. If you see that you must immediately alert Security. You are a guard of the Bases at all times. On ACDU we are all one Depart of Defense.

Response by SrA Steve Susumu Monas made May 29 at 2016 4:49 AM

2016-05-29T04:49:45-04:00

He need to go to jail.

Response by SrA Steve Susumu Monas made May 29 at 2016 4:50 AM

2016-05-29T04:50:39-04:00

Clock everything.

Response by SrA Steve Susumu Monas made May 29 at 2016 4:51 AM

2016-05-29T04:51:15-04:00

Cloak. Lol

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Nov 2 at 2017 12:56 PM

2017-11-02T12:56:34-04:00

You CAN'T confiscate photographic or video equipment when the shooter is on public grounds. As a former military photographer, I know all about the law governing what a person can and can't shoot. Dealt with this issue in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, bases all over CONUS.