Troy, NY, City police officers would face a fine and jail time if they to stop people from legally photographing or filming them under an ordinance created by the City Council’s Public Safety Committee. Councilman Robert Doherty, the committee chairman, said the law would be drafted and presented in the months ahead.

The proposed ordinance arises from two police brutality lawsuits filed against the city in U.S. District Court by James Fahey and Brian Houle.

"No longer will we have citizens brutally attacked for photographing or witnessing police activity, such as happened with Mr. Foley and allegedly, Mr. Houle," Doherty said in a statement at the committee meeting Wednesday.

"The administration and police leadership are now on notice that any citizen is authorized and encouraged to witness, photograph, and attest to police conduct at any time they choose without interference," Doherty said. "To assure this right is advanced with enthusiasm in a clear, enforced policy, I will seek to enact an ordinance to affect this in Troy,"

The city settled its lawsuit with Foley for $90,000. Houle’s $3 million lawsuit against the city is stilling pending. An attempt to resolve Houle’s suit in February through mediation was unsuccessful, according to federal court records. The proposed ordinance would carry a maximum $5,000 fine and a jail term of up to 15 days for an officer found guilty of violating it.

The proposed law comes as the city deals with the fallout of the melee between police at patrons at Kokopellis on Jan. 25. Much of the melee was recorded by security cameras.[…]