In the aftermath of the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, there was a damning report of improper photography going on from medical personnel of a deceased Kobe Bryant that were quick to leak after an S-76 Sikorsky helicopter crashed into the hills of Calabasas on Sunday, Jan. 26.
The outrage that stemmed from that moment has 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.”
Assembly Bill 2655 would outlaw acts that violate the privacy of deceased victims and apply to all first responders acting under color of authority, including law enforcement officers, paramedics, dispatchers, firefighters and medical examiners, according to the report.
Once it was determined that it was Kobe’s helicopter that went down, reports would surface that his entire family was on board, and then former teammate Rick Fox as well. Those were all false.
His daughter Gianna was later found to be one of the nine aboard.
One of the LA county sheriff’s deputy allegedly showed a few gruesome photos of the scene in an effort to impress a woman. His action resulted in a citizen complaint to the police department. He was since asked to delete the images.
