Topline
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott quietly signed a bill Wednesday barring Texas police departments from participating in reality television shows like Cops and Live PD more than two years after Javier Ambler, the Black Austin man whose name the law bears, was killed in police custody as a camera crew filmed the tragedy.
Texas police will no longer be able to contract with reality television for shows like 'Cops' and ... [+]
Key Facts
The bill passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature with rare bipartisan support following the shocking death of Ambler in March 2019.
Ambler was pursued by Williamson County deputies because he did not dim his headlights as he approached oncoming traffic, according to an investigation by the Austin-American Statesman, and he was tasered by officers four times after he got out of his car, even as he told them he couldn’t breathe and had a heart condition.
At the time, the officers were riding with a camera crew from Live PD, an A&E reality show that followed officers on their patrols and broadcast footage nearly live.
Since his death, Ambler’s family have questioned if the deputies “performed” for the cameras and used more force than was necessary because the Live PD crew was present.
After Williamson County contracted with Live PD in 2018, the sheriff’s office doubled its use of force and the number of car chases increased by more than half, according to an analysis of county law enforcement data by the Statesman.
Crucial Quote
“Policing is not entertainment,” State Rep. James Talarico, who introduced the bill, said in a statement to Forbes. “I’m proud that Democrats and Republicans came together to pass this bill to protect our citizens and help restore faith in law enforcement.”
Key Background
The law will go into effect immediately, but many reality law enforcement shows like Cops and Live PD were canceled last year in the wake of nationwide protests against police brutality sparked by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. A&E Networks did not broadcast Ambler’s death, and destroyed the footage before it could be turned over to investigators, per an agreement between the show and the county that allowed unaired clips to be destroyed within 30 days. In September, Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody was indicted on evidence tampering charges, along with Jason Nassour, former general counsel to the county.
Further Reading
'Javier Ambler Law' banning reality TV and policing passes Texas Senate, heads to Abbott's desk (Austin-American Statesman)
