[Jeff Higgins]

First rule of defensive use of a firearm: do not display it unless you fully intend to use it.
Second rule: do not display it unless your life, or another's life, is in immediate danger.

These basic rules are meant to keep hot headed tough guys from threatening others with their defensive sidearms. This cop broke both of them. On top of that, he is taking advantage of his position as an LEO, very much assuming that in that position he is immune from prosecution for this.

I bet he didn't even consider the fact that his actions were being caught on a helmet cam. Too bad the biker didn't file a complaint, so the state police could deny he ever drew the gun, with corraborating testimony from the other officer to boot. Wait for all of their denials to be firmly established in the media, then drop the hammer on them with the video.

Court after court has ruled that the police, when being filmed during the routine performance of their duties, out in public for all to see, have no "reasonable expectation of privacy". As such, there is no consent required to film them. The legal precedent has been pretty firmly established on this one.

I just love this modern proliferation of small, cheap recording devices. It is truly stunning (and maddening) to see just how much of this kind of behavior has been captured on video in just the last few years. Even worse, though, is just how many continue to get away with it. Far too many "internal affairs" departments review these and, as a result, they go no further than that. It's high time for citizens' review committees; ones with real authority to impart discipline.

At a minimum, this guy needs to be removed from the force and never allowed to work in law enforcement again.