If a picture is worth a thousand words then a video is priceless! Davy V. couldn't agree more. The video producer/filmmaker from Rochester New York, best known for his Award winning short "R.P.D. EXPOSED!" about the corrupt Rochester Police department and their long history of abusing and killing unarmed innocent people gives us a look into his work, and tells us how we can use video to catch corrupt cops!
In 2001 I produced "R.P.D EXPOSED!" a half hour documentary about the corrupt Rochester, NY Police Department and their 25 plus year history of abusing and killing Blacks and Hispanics here in Rochester. Unfortunately this is nothing new, the R.P.D. has been killing unarmed innocent people for decades! Incidents such as the shooting death of Calvin Greene is one such example, another is 21 year old father of three Vandy Davis, also shot and killed by an R.P.D. cop.
"R.P.D. EXPOSED!" includes interviews with Davis' family members as they express their pain over his senseless murder. Also included is home video which I shot of R.P.D. cops mistreating a black motorist during a traffic stop, something all too common in Rochester, as in other cities across the country.
The video was featured in THE SOURCE Hip Hop Magazine August 2001 issue on page 76 in a one page Q&A about "R.P.D. EXPOSED!" and how one can use video to document official misconduct.
"R.P.D. EXPOSED!" went on to win the 2001 US ACM Video Festival Award.
As a Hispanic, I have experienced Police Brutality firsthand, and through video production I am able to expose how these cops out here treat minorities, my next project is titled "R.P.D.: Badges of Dishonor, Corruption and Murder!" it deals with the recent murder of 14 year old Craig Heard, an unarmed black honor roll student who was shot twice in the head by R.P.D. cops.
THE POWER OF VIDEO IS NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED!
I tell everyone to arm themselves with video cameras, keep them with you or close by at all times! And catch corrupt cops on tape! As an independent video producer I have also seen the power of Cable Access firsthand! That is how I produced "R.P.D. EXPOSED!" and that is how I aired it, right here in Rochester on RCTV Channel 15, I recommend to everyone to find out about Cable Access in your city or town and look into airing police brutality/misconduct video on Cable Access, and let these cops know that there are always people out here taping them and exposing them for all to see!
For a VHS copy of "R.P.D. EXPOSED!" or for more info on me and my work e-mail me at:
DavyV2000@aol.com