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bencamach0.bsky.social
camacho
@bencamach0.bsky.social
4.8K followers 270 following 250 posts
multi-award winning journalist, documentary photographer // production West Side Storytellers, union IWW-FJU, signal: bencamacho.01

new worker-led publication @thesouthlander.com

https://linktr.ee/bencamacho
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
I wrote about the LAPD getting the OK from city council to remain militarized this year. A motion to limit tear gas and 40 mm rubber bullets failed after a contenious back and forth with LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.
www.joeyscott.xyz/lapd-gets-th...
LAPD gets the OK from city council to remain a militarized police department for another year.
A motion to limit the department's deployment of tear gas and 40 mm rubber bullets failed to pass.
www.joeyscott.xyz
December 7, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by camacho
bencamach0.bsky.social
This short-documentary was the reason I wanted LAPD’s headshots. It started with just the people involved with this story but when I was typing the request, I just said, “fuck it, all of them”
bencamach0.bsky.social camacho @bencamach0.bsky.social · 7d
what LAPD never told the public or internal investigators.

The investigation further revealed an underreported and rare issue: search warrants that circumvented court oversight and became untraceable due to LAPD mishandling.

Short-doc about what we are calling shadow warrants youtu.be/Xh3ZlDegq9o
The Blue Hand: LAPD Improperly Used A Search Warrant To Investigate A Shooting Victim
YouTube video by West Side Storytellers
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 6:18 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
we started on this before AI existed and gladly say that not a single robot touched the project the entire way #NewsNotSlop
December 1, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
This piece has been a long time in the making. I know the work and rejection that's gone into it, and it's great to see Ben has finally published it.
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social Joey Scott @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social · 7d
@bencamach0.bsky.social published his investigative piece about LAPD shooting at a crowd of party goers. After a long fight for the public records, he found out there was more to the story than what the LAPD told the public and internal investigators.
inadvertent.substack.com/p/the-blue-h...
LAPD made no mention of CSP's connection to the shooting in early public messaging about the incident, despite the involved officers having intimate knowledge about the neighborhood - its gangs, its layout, its culture and people - through their work in the program. At the same time, CSP sat on the verge of becoming its own bureau, a move that would establish the community policing program as a core element of LAPD's organizational structure. CP's connection to the shooting was never publicly mentioned until Inadvertent obtained records about the incident almost four years later through a lawsuit.
December 1, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
@bencamach0.bsky.social published his investigative piece about LAPD shooting at a crowd of party goers. After a long fight for the public records, he found out there was more to the story than what the LAPD told the public and internal investigators.
inadvertent.substack.com/p/the-blue-h...
LAPD made no mention of CSP's connection to the shooting in early public messaging about the incident, despite the involved officers having intimate knowledge about the neighborhood - its gangs, its layout, its culture and people - through their work in the program. At the same time, CSP sat on the verge of becoming its own bureau, a move that would establish the community policing program as a core element of LAPD's organizational structure. CP's connection to the shooting was never publicly mentioned until Inadvertent obtained records about the incident almost four years later through a lawsuit.
December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
This short-documentary was the reason I wanted LAPD’s headshots. It started with just the people involved with this story but when I was typing the request, I just said, “fuck it, all of them”
bencamach0.bsky.social camacho @bencamach0.bsky.social · 7d
what LAPD never told the public or internal investigators.

The investigation further revealed an underreported and rare issue: search warrants that circumvented court oversight and became untraceable due to LAPD mishandling.

Short-doc about what we are calling shadow warrants youtu.be/Xh3ZlDegq9o
The Blue Hand: LAPD Improperly Used A Search Warrant To Investigate A Shooting Victim
YouTube video by West Side Storytellers
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 6:18 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
A 5 year investigation into an LAPD shooting revealed that an officer with LAPD’s Community Safety Partnership shot at crowds of partygoers in South Central LA. After suing for records twice, footage & documents showed...

inadvertent.substack.com/p/the-blue-h...
LAPD Shot At A Party Then Improperly Used A Search Warrant To Investigate A Shooting Victim
LAPD’s community policing program avoided scrutiny for a shootout a month before the program became its own bureau. Data revealed search warrant practices were leading to untraceable warrants.
inadvertent.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by camacho
eff.org
So-called "smart" devices are pushed heavily for the holidays, but be mindful of what you're opting that gift recipient into. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
Think Twice Before Giving Surveillance for the Holidays
With the holidays upon us, it's easy to default to giving the tech gifts that retailers tend to push on us this time of year: smart speakers, video doorbells, bluetooth trackers, fitness trackers,
www.eff.org
November 28, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by camacho
reuters.com
Viola Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre — when white attackers killed as many as 300 people, most of them Black — has died at age 111, the mayor said. She told Congress in 2021 that she lived through the massacre 'every day' reut.rs/4pt18LJ
November 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Reposted by camacho
blisterpearl.bsky.social
Seattle is using stencils when neighbors go missing
NEIGHBOR KIDNAPPED HERE ABOLISH ICE painted on Seattle sidewalk in yellow paint
November 22, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Reposted by camacho
freedom.press
The secure messaging app @signal.org makes it easy to chat without sacrificing security.

If you're getting started with Signal, learn how, and if you are already a user, we help you tighten its security.
Locking down signal
YouTube video by Freedom of the Press Foundation
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:41 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
Former SAPD Chief David Valentin has been on his stand since yesterday.

Plaintiff’s council today revealed that the City of Santa Ana entered into a $50k contract with Valentin to get him to cooperate on the various lawsuits against the city and him.

inadvertent.substack.com/p/sapd-gang-...
Former SAPD Manager’s Lawsuit Exposing SAPD’s Gang-Like Activity Begins Trial
Current and former cops are set to testify about retaliation, harassment and discrimination claims made by former police manager Rita Ramirez. How did we even get here?
inadvertent.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Reposted by camacho
mayaschenwar.bsky.social
Movement journalism isn't just a nice thing to have: It's essential to expose injustice, uplift movements, and share visions for our collective futures.

Amazing @femmfeministe.bsky.social and I wrote about why resourcing journalism is important, especially right now!

truthout.org/articles/the...
The Right Funds Its Media. Can Progressive Philanthropy Meet the Moment?
Rigorous, principled, independent journalism is an essential part of movement building.
truthout.org
November 19, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
I also didn't like to do my homework on time, but I wasn't breaking the law like LAPD is likely doing by not posting their use of force reports from the No Kings protest in June.

New from me:
www.joeyscott.xyz/lapd-is-like...
The Los Angeles Police Department is likely violating state law by failing to publish its use of force reports from the No Kings protest in June.
State law AB48 requires police to file the reports within 60 days of their protest response.
www.joeyscott.xyz
November 19, 2025 at 2:50 AM
bencamach0.bsky.social
made some graphics to go with my story

read if you haven't yet!

inadvertent.substack.com/p/birds-of-a...
November 17, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Reposted by camacho
eltragon.bsky.social
Border Patrol has been targeting the elderly heavily. Today in Santa Ana, that’s almost all they took, including this man and his cane.
A border patrol questions an elderly man with a cane in a parking lot before taking him.
November 15, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Reposted by camacho
elizabethweill.bsky.social
People held at the Core Civic-run ICE jail in Kern County, California are denied medical care, access to their attorneys, and, for disabled detainees, the most basic accommodations, according to a class action lawsuit filed by the ACLU and others. www.thecarceralreport.com/p/people-at-...
November 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
my first story on mass surveillance is out: inadvertent.substack.com/p/birds-of-a...

co-publishing with @calonews.bsky.social
Birds Of A Feather Flock Together: Santa Ana And ICE’s Efforts To Surveil You
SAPD’s new mass surveillance system comes as ICE drafted plans to set up a 24/7 social media surveillance team in Santa Ana. Mayor Amezcua in denial.
inadvertent.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:10 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
The chief and cops that continue to shoot journalists and interfere with our work need to be held in contempt.

From the horse’s mouth, the LAPD does not want to follow the federal injunction handed down to them.

No consequences = no accountability
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social Joey Scott @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social · 28d
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell released a statement about the dept’s opposition to the injunction that protects journalists at protests. Their biggest hang-up is not being able to freely use less-lethals on people to “de-escalate” protests.
Chief of Police Response to Preliminary Injunction Involving Media at Protests Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) remains firmly committed to upholding the most vital principle of our democracy: the right to a free press and an informed public. Protections for members of the media during First Amendment assemblies constitute a vital component of our policies and training and are a critical focus in our crowd management, intervention, and control strategies. The LAPD's policies and procedures are consistent with both state and federal law and have been modified since the protests in 2020 in a continued effort to improve the LAPD's efficiency in crowd management, protect all peaceful demonstrators, and ensure their ability to demonstrate lawfully are preserved and protected. However, when a peaceful demonstration is threatened by people intent on unlawful and violent behavior, the risk of harm to everyone involved increases substantially. In these moments, the LAPD must declare an unlawful assembly, and issue dispersal orders, to ensure the safety of the public and restore order. Recently, a preliminary injunction was issued that negatively affected the LAPD's ability to manage the complexities of unlawful assemblies and unruly crowds. These events are often volatile and can escalate rapidly. Individuals frequently carry dangerous weapons and use violent tactics to obstruct law enforcement operations. Amid these emotionally charged and hazardous conditions, our officers trained to the highest standards make every effort to identify duly authorized members of the media and support their constitutional right to report safely and freely. The LAPD has several key concerns with the injunction, including: • Ambiguity in defining "duly authorized" media personnel, which may allow individuals with ill intent who are not duly authorized media personnel to gain access to areas behind the officers' skirmish lines, increasin • Uncertainty surrounding mutual aid operations, including the LAPD's potential liability for actions taken by partnering agencies that may operate under different protocols and tactical guidelines. • Setting an impossible standard for LAPD officers, and potentially holding the City in contempt and liable for financial sanctions for actions of LAPD officers that are lawful under both state and federal law, and appropriate for all other law enforcement agencies except the LAPD. While we remain committed to fostering professional and respectful relationships with our medi partners, and will comply with the injunction as required, its broad scope and ambiguous provisions may compromise officer safety, hinder effective crowd management, and negatively impact the wider community. For this reason, the LAPD fully supports the City Attorney's efforts to correct the problems created by the injunction. The LAPD remains committed to upholding the safety and constitutional rights of all Angelenos residents, demonstrators, officers, and legitimate members of the press without exception.
November 11, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
With an injunction they still do this:
bsky.app/profile/joey...
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social Joey Scott @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social · Oct 19
Here's the video from @filmthepolicela.bsky.social of @shoton35mm.bsky.social getting shot at by LAPD. You can see the horse cop point Lex out before the other officer shoots Lex. You can see clear as day the LAPD violated the federal injunction.
November 10, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
Again, nobody has in the history of protests in LA pretended to be press to attack police or engage in criminal behavior. They just want to use force against anyone and not worry if the person on the other side of the rubber bullet is press or not.
November 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by camacho
joeyneverjoe.bsky.social
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell released a statement about the dept’s opposition to the injunction that protects journalists at protests. Their biggest hang-up is not being able to freely use less-lethals on people to “de-escalate” protests.
Chief of Police Response to Preliminary Injunction Involving Media at Protests Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) remains firmly committed to upholding the most vital principle of our democracy: the right to a free press and an informed public. Protections for members of the media during First Amendment assemblies constitute a vital component of our policies and training and are a critical focus in our crowd management, intervention, and control strategies. The LAPD's policies and procedures are consistent with both state and federal law and have been modified since the protests in 2020 in a continued effort to improve the LAPD's efficiency in crowd management, protect all peaceful demonstrators, and ensure their ability to demonstrate lawfully are preserved and protected. However, when a peaceful demonstration is threatened by people intent on unlawful and violent behavior, the risk of harm to everyone involved increases substantially. In these moments, the LAPD must declare an unlawful assembly, and issue dispersal orders, to ensure the safety of the public and restore order. Recently, a preliminary injunction was issued that negatively affected the LAPD's ability to manage the complexities of unlawful assemblies and unruly crowds. These events are often volatile and can escalate rapidly. Individuals frequently carry dangerous weapons and use violent tactics to obstruct law enforcement operations. Amid these emotionally charged and hazardous conditions, our officers trained to the highest standards make every effort to identify duly authorized members of the media and support their constitutional right to report safely and freely. The LAPD has several key concerns with the injunction, including: • Ambiguity in defining "duly authorized" media personnel, which may allow individuals with ill intent who are not duly authorized media personnel to gain access to areas behind the officers' skirmish lines, increasin • Uncertainty surrounding mutual aid operations, including the LAPD's potential liability for actions taken by partnering agencies that may operate under different protocols and tactical guidelines. • Setting an impossible standard for LAPD officers, and potentially holding the City in contempt and liable for financial sanctions for actions of LAPD officers that are lawful under both state and federal law, and appropriate for all other law enforcement agencies except the LAPD. While we remain committed to fostering professional and respectful relationships with our medi partners, and will comply with the injunction as required, its broad scope and ambiguous provisions may compromise officer safety, hinder effective crowd management, and negatively impact the wider community. For this reason, the LAPD fully supports the City Attorney's efforts to correct the problems created by the injunction. The LAPD remains committed to upholding the safety and constitutional rights of all Angelenos residents, demonstrators, officers, and legitimate members of the press without exception.
November 10, 2025 at 7:57 PM
bencamach0.bsky.social
got a good one coming next week. subscribe: inadvertent.substack.com
Inadvertent | Ben Camacho | Substack
Inadvertent is an independent, muckraking outlet. Click to read Inadvertent, by Ben Camacho, a Substack publication.
inadvertent.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Reposted by camacho
harmscommitted.com
"What does federal attention mean for our safety? For our sources?"

"That's the calculation foreign correspondents make in conflict zones. Now it's what local journalists are making in American cities."
#California #USA #Media #Deportation #EthnicCleansing
When your local reporter needs the same protection as a war correspondent
Five months of covering ICE raids taught our small LA newsroom hard lessons — and we're still figuring out how to sustain it.
lapublicpress.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by camacho
dig-a-hole.bsky.social
If only certain people can only say certain things at state-mandated certain times and in state mandated certain places, speech is not free.

If only state sanctioned reporters can report state sanctioned things at state sanctioned locations, the press is not free.
November 6, 2025 at 1:18 AM