Public Employees Filmed at Work - What would you do?

Mason County Courthouse - video of a first amendment audit.

This story hits close to home! Mason County Employees were a target of a first amendment audit last week starting at the courthouse. Watch the YouTube video to see how well they handled it. First Amendment Audits have been going on for several years and you, as a PUD employee, could find yourself in a similar situation someday. Here’s an excellent article explaining what the audits are and the rights citizens have to film us in public areas while we perform our work: MRSC Article on Filming Public Employees.

Please watch this video and read the article so you can talk it over with your supervisor and make sure you know what you would do if someone approached you at work with a camera in your face.

What should you do?

Keep in mind that most often these auditors are looking for a confrontation because that is better click bait for their social media platforms. Don’t get confrontational. Ignore the camera. Give the best customer service that you can (and usually do) and try to accommodate their requests.

What if you are in the field?

If you are working in the field, you have a right and a responsibility to keep your work zone safe. Try to do it without confrontation, by simply telling them:

“I know you want information and we are committed to getting that to you. I will put you in touch with the person at the office who can help you. In the meantime I have a job to do here and I need to keep myself and you safe so I need you to stand behind the _____ outside the work zone.”

Remember that they can continue to film you if they want to stay outside the work safety zone.

What to do if they want a public record?

Since any employee of the District can be the recipient of a public records request and the clock starts the moment the record is verbally requested, you need to know the process. If you can, try to assist them by filling out the electronic records request form on the intranet or help them locate it on our website but if they insist on a printed form, make sure to print it and provide it. In any case, try to gather any contact information possible and pass it along immediately (same day) to the Records department at records@masonpud3.org because the clock to respond starts immediately.

Conclusion

The best advice for public staff and elected officials is to serve an auditor in the same manner as any other person who seeks to conduct official business. Such a strategy may help avoid confrontations and minimize the District’s liability regarding violations of constitutional rights.