Elaine Frontain Bryant, the executive vice president and head of programming for A&E, has stated that the mission of Live PD is to provide “transparency of policing in America.” To that end, Live PD takes “COPS” to the next level, bringing a live feed from the field directly into your living room.
But how “live” is Live PD? How much of the calls are you actually seeing? And what kind of editing is being done to the footage?
The “Live PD” Wikipedia article contains an oft-repeated line: “Because of the risk of confidential or otherwise inappropriate material being aired, A&E imposes a broadcast delay on the show which may range from a few seconds to several minutes.”
Excuse me for a minute while I finish laughing 😂
Live PD is many things, but live is not one of them. In fact, one Live PD contract we looked at explicitly states that the show is produced to give *the appearance* of being unedited. And as this video shows, what was in reality a 20+ minute incident was condensed by Live PD to ~3 minutes of broadcast-worthy content.
Is it still “live” if audio is cut and dubbed between scenes?
If a funky bass backing track is added for mood? How far can the word “live” be stretched before it becomes a lie?
On March 20, 2020, The New York Times published an article about Live PD. Written by Lindsey Underwood, the piece describes Live PD as “live-ish,” adding – almost apologetically – that “There’s a delay, in case something unusually gruesome happens.” Not quite, Ms. Underwood.
Here are some facts:
—Officers in the field have the authority to stop Live PD’s film crew from filming at any time. No questions asked. No explanations needed.
—The law enforcement agency dictates what Live PD can (and can’t) film.
—We uncovered records indicating that – despite contract wording to the contrary – it’s the police department (and not the show) that has final say over what you see.
In an attempt to put real numbers on Live PD’s delay, we looked at contracts between the show’s production company, Big Fish Entertainment, and police agencies. The delay’s duration varies between contracts, but it has never been “seconds to several minutes.”
One contract we looked at states that ‘almost live’ content is delayed “10 to 25 minutes.” Another contract has the delay at “30-60 minutes.” That one also provides for a department representative literally in the control room, to put the kibosh on anything they don’t want you to see.
And it seems that things may be moving more in the direction of an edited production. We got our hands on the emails police agencies had exchanged with Live PD. For example, an email from Ashlee Souza, Live PD’s Coordinating Producer. The email was sent 12/19/19 and it contains a link to edited footage that was filmed two weeks prior. Souza’s email was a request to the police department, asking that they review and approve the linked video “package” covering the 12/3 incident. Souza sent a few nudging follow-up emails, and the package was finally reviewed and approved by the chief of police on 1/2/20. For content filmed 12/3/19. Almost live?
There are other, arguably more important, questions that should also be asked. Like how much editorial control police departments have over the footage that gets aired, and what kind of impact the show itself has on policing — let alone the people who appear on it.
For those questions I refer you to a fantastic podcast by Dan Taberski. It’s called “Running From COPS” and the six-episode series is the result of an 18-month investigation into the iconic TV show. Running From COPS explores how COPS actually gets made and how much control the police have over the final product, while telling some of the stories of people who have ended up on camera. The show’s last few episodes touch on Live PD. Check it out at http://tiny.cc/copspodcast
Want more Live PD vs. reality comparison videos? Let us know in the comments below!
*I’m running out of space, but – briefly – about Jalen Foster: Foster was arrested by Officer Martinez on 5/2/19 for driving without a license, which violated Foster’s probation for burglary of a structure. That’s how they know each other. More to come.
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How about saying thanks to one of the only cops that didn't right out lie to you and didn't take you in cause where I'm at you would have been taking that ride.
Dang, 2 ounces.
The cop weighs it with the bag and it's not a level surface. That bag made it over 28.
Please do more live pd vs real videos
damn lollll they exposed him for wearing one of those body shaping braces that ppl wear to look thinner…. On a TV show lollllll. Rip
This is why I love this channel. I don't approve of live PD at all. Especially how they try to escalate things for no reason.
These guys are really doing the lords work
RWP should edit these like Live PD.
"You smell like fresh weed, you smell like fresh weed, you smell like fresh weed" Good lord we get it 🙄
You can see the refresh rate of the dash gauges lol
Catch alcohol drinkers and seller's as we know kills people who don't even drink
the stuff….weed don't kill people…..it don't make people fight. .people want to eat
after weed…..you all smoke it liar cop….yes you smoke it people…lots of you🤔🤔🤔🤗do.
In the end was there really a female holding a baby that went in the car to the front seat I'm surprised the officer didn't catch that because there was no car seat either for the baby in the back
Glad these cops can't just go off the smell of weed anymore. They jam ppl up for weed. No longer. They big mad at that also! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
It was kind of obvious the show wasn't completely live. It's entertainment. I much prefer the type of content on this channel and others like it here on YT.
I tell you what, if I got busted in bougee Troy Michigan with 2 OUNCES in my crotch, I'd be at OCJ for 5 months faster than I could say BITCH MADE 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I love this cop lol I love both of them, other one is like "come'on man, just say it if u smoked it" lol and the other one is like YOU REEK MAN LOL THAT IS SOME FRESH WEED LOL
"This is not my jacket" the runner up to "these are not my pants"
That's the problem that had with cops is the police departments generally did it to make themselves and the dept. Look good so in the end they controlled most and had final say of what they could show smh so nothing bad rele got out 😔
I am so glad we have police officers to get these horrible drugs off the streets.
Grasping straws.
OFC Hottstuff!
Next thing you are gonna tell me is that a male has a pair of XY chromosome
"Nah I don't smoke" cop start search immediately a lighter near the door handle🤣
You can hear the change in the audio every time they dub stuff in or cut stuff out- I can usually pick it out of the TV show immediately.
Stealing that mans weed live
Anyone else notice he had the seat buckled right across the seat? He definitely was wearing a seat belt
If there's weed don't speed 😂
This is why weed should be legalized. What a waste of money
all those people in jail for weed and now it's legal. ain't that a bitch.
Stupid. Weed. Who cares how much he has. It’s just weed.
Driver: “Mee uhh, humma humma, unka homma who, unk huh humma hummaâ€
So weird. Just smoke dope at home. Why in the car? Can’t wait 15-20 min to where you are going? Then dumb dumb is speeding on top of it.
I just drove down these streets today lol. I never paid attention to the streets until now.
It’s like literally every reality show ever. I’m not sure what you guys expected. That’s how these things are made
What absolute bullshit.
Leave the poor kid alone. It's just weed.
And what's up with this lying ass cop?!
He knows they're going to issue a warrant on the kid.
it sounds like that becuse the bodycam . and it sounds clear becuse the camras mic
"here's the only alternative, if you go to jail with it you're getting hit with a felony introducing contraband to a jail facility"
WRONG. The reason the cop is desperately trying to get him to say he has weed on himself is because the cop has no other charges to put him in jail with in the 1st place. No drugs in the car, no OVI/DUI, no weapon, nothing.
imagine getting a felony for some weed that grows from a natural plant
Wait wait how was he going to jail for speeding after the search of the car turned up nothing
Someone still watches TV?
Black cop watching white cop making sure everything is legit
Obviously it’s not live lol traffic stops and arrests don’t last a minute and a half
Every time? Snap out of it son!
this is just good editing
The complete opposite of racial bias. He was speeding in a car he is not authorized to drive, carrying over twice the felony amount of marijuana, yet he gets to drive away ? What has happened to law enforcement ? If I go to Tallahassee and rob somebody, what is the $ limit before I go to jail ? Pathetic.
So gangster 🤣🤣🤣🤣 until we hear it's Mum's rental car
The cop said if its over 28 im not gonna charge you with a felony then when it weighs 29 he says anything over 20 in Florida is a felony that's fucked guy was fucked either way