After the horrific death of Los Angeles Lakers basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, a report emerge about a month ago stating that improper photography took place from medical personnel of a deceased Kobe Bryant. Right after the accident occurred, they were quick to leak the photos out.
California Assemblyman Mike Gipson (D-Carson) hoping to know make it a crime for officers to take unauthorized photos of those killed in accidents and crimes, according to Patrick McGreevy of The Los Angeles Times.
“…Gipson has introduced legislation that would make it a misdemeanor with punishment of up to a year in jail and as much as $5,000 in fines for a first responder to use a smartphone or other device to photograph a deceased person for any purpose other than official law enforcement business.”
“Our first responders, when responding to an emergency, should not be taking very sensitive photographs … for their own gain, for their own pleasure,” Gipson said Tuesday. “It was unconscionable. It’s not right.”
In March, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said that he made several deputies delete the images from their personal devices, later learning that as many as eight deputies had taken, seen, or exchanged photos from the crash. An investigation has been launched into the situation; it’s uncertain if the deputies were disciplined.
In a statement from Vanessa Bryant’s attorney, Gary Robb, the photos were described as an “unspeakable violation of human decency.”
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