Smile for the camera! Is it illegal to video tape police doing their job?

Q: Is it illegal to video tape police doing their job? -- John in CentraliaA: "Good question, John. A lot of people wonder that, and we're asked that at scenes, is it legal to videotape the police? Actually it is. Your allowed to video tape and audio record the police at a scene. Once we see the camera's up, and we expect everywhere we go these days, that there will be cameras and things are being videotaped. You won't get in any trouble for video taping the police unless your obstructing the investigation. You can't go behind police lines, or get in the middle of the action where you could get hurt, or get somebody hurt." -- Pierce County Det. Ed Troyer