Arizona State University: Police Chief Assaults Individual Filming Public Law Enforcement Activities

On April 27, 2024, the chief of the Arizona State University police slapped a phone out of a person’s hands while the individual filmed the chief cutting protesters’ tents, left over from a cleared protest encampment, in a public outdoor area of campus. FIRE wrote the chief, explaining that individuals have an established First Amendment right to record law enforcement officers performing their duties in public spaces, and that the chief’s actions violated that right. The letter urged the chief to ensure he and his officers are adequately trained on the constitutional limits of their authority and on the rights of the public to prevent similar incidents in the future. ASU placed the chief on administrative leave while it investigates the incident. The investigation is ongoing.