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	The first group to call itself Copwatch started in ] in ]. There are now numerous Copwatch groups in cities throughout the United States, and more continue to sprout each year. Each group is autonomous and self-governing, but most groups share common goals: promote public safety and to ensure that police officers remain accountable for their actions.<ref>'''',</ref>		The first group to call itself Copwatch started in ] in ]. There are now numerous Copwatch groups in cities throughout the United States, and more continue to sprout each year. Each group is autonomous and self-governing, but most groups share common goals: promote public safety and to ensure that police officers remain accountable for their actions.<ref>'''',</ref>

	On November 3, 2006, a video of the arrest of alleged ] member William Cardenas was posted to ] by CopWatch ]. The video, which ~~shows~~ the ~~apparently~~ ~~restrained~~ ~~Cardenas~~ repeatedly ~~punched~~ in the face by ~~officers,~~ prompted investigations into police conduct by both the ] and the ].<ref>Veiga, Alex. ''''. ], 2006-11-13</ref>		On November 3, 2006, a video of the arrest of alleged ] member William Cardenas was posted to ] by CopWatch ]. The video, in which Cardenas struggles to prevent the police from handcuffing him, shows the officers repeatedly punching him in the face while trying to force his hands together. The circulation of this video prompted investigations into police conduct by both the ] and the ].<ref>Veiga, Alex. ''''. ], 2006-11-13</ref>

	==Copwatch methods==		==Copwatch methods==

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Phoenix Copwatch logo

Copwatch (also Cop Watch) is a network of United States and Canadian volunteer organizations that "police the police". Copwatch groups usually engage in monitoring of the police, videotaping police activity, and educating the public about police misconduct.

History

The modern concept of copwatching is based on a model of police accountability used by the Black Panther Party, in which members of the Party followed police officers on patrols in poor African American neighborhoods. The Panthers would intervene when they believed the police had become intimidating or abusive to black people they had detained.

The Brown Berets also took direct action against police abuse in largely Hispanic neighborhoods and are seen as an antecedent to modern copwatchers.

The first group to call itself Copwatch started in Berkeley, California in 1990. There are now numerous Copwatch groups in cities throughout the United States, and more continue to sprout each year. Each group is autonomous and self-governing, but most groups share common goals: promote public safety and to ensure that police officers remain accountable for their actions.

On November 3, 2006, a video of the arrest of alleged gang member William Cardenas was posted to YouTube by CopWatch LA. The video, in which Cardenas struggles to prevent the police from handcuffing him, shows the officers repeatedly punching him in the face while trying to force his hands together. The circulation of this video prompted investigations into police conduct by both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Copwatch methods

The main function of most Copwatch groups is monitoring police activity. "Copwatchers" go out on foot or driving patrols in their communities and videotape interactions between the police and civilians. Some groups also patrol at protests and demonstrations to ensure that the rights of protesters are not violated by police officers. Copwatch organizations generally abide by a policy of non-interference with the police, although this may not be true for all groups. Copwatch does not have a policy to ensure that members are obeying the law during their activities or a policy to ensure that people reporting the activities of police officers are not using the organization to interfere with ongoing criminal investigations or to hide their criminal activities.

Copwatch groups also hold "Know Your Rights" forums to educate the public about their legal and human rights when interacting with the police, and some groups organize events to highlight problems of police abuse in their communities. However, the group does not advocate for more accountable law enforcement practices or abuse prevention programs.

Online activities

The Copwatch.com website provides a database of reports of police misconduct and forums for the general public to discuss issues of police abuse. One of the tactics advocated by the owners of this site is the "two person protest", intended to raise public awareness using a small number of people.

The Copwatch Forums were created for the general public to discuss alleged police misconduct. It contains a database of police officer misconduct across the United States, although these complaints are not verified or provided to internal affairs division of law enforcement agencies.

Branching Out

Local Copwatch groups established their own chapters in several cities e.g. Houston, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana although some chapters have either folded and/or disbanded. New Orleans Copwatch is still active, even in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.