Produced in-house by the New York Police Department and promoted across its official social media channels, the dramatic two-minute clip reflects a concerted effort by the nation’s largest police force to engage the public and influence policy through a more aggressive online presence.

The strategic shift has brought criticism from former NYPD officials and civil liberties groups who say police leaders shouldn’t use public resources to advance their own policy agenda or attack other civil servants. But the NYPD hasn’t backed down.

“We want to go on social media and push back on the misinformation that’s out there,” Tarik Sheppard, the NYPD’s top spokesperson, said in an interview. “Because if we don’t, it could cause damage to the reputation of our cops and the work that we’re doing.”

In a post shared on X last week, Chief of Patrol John Chell lashed out at a state judge by name, saying she had released a man he deemed a “predator” who had been accused of stealing a cellphone and carrying drugs.

  • DigitalTraveler42@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    “We want to go on social media and push back on the misinformation that’s out there,” Tarik Sheppard, the NYPD’s top spokesperson, said in an interview. “Because if we don’t, it could cause damage to the reputation of our cops and the work that we’re doing.”

    Instead they want to keep their misinformation uncriticized through intimidation tactics, including letting mid-level NYPD officers attempt to intimidate judges for dropping a case the officer was in dispute about, while also lying about what the accused did and who the judge released, matched with video of a completely different person being bagged by the cops in their home.

    Mayor Adam’s election has let the NYPD get back to their Trump era levels of out of control, and governor Hochul is completely involved in all of these shenanigans.

  • Chozo@fedia.io
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    8 months ago

    “We want to go on social media and push back on the misinformation that’s out there,” Tarik Sheppard, the NYPD’s top spokesperson, said in an interview. “Because if we don’t, it could cause damage to the reputation of our cops and the work that we’re doing.”

    Oh yeah, because y’all have been maintaining such a stellar reputation on your own so far, huh?

  • Infynis@midwest.social
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    8 months ago

    It’s not uncommon for law enforcement officials to use social media to assail judges and specific policies, such as changes to bal laws. Elected sheriffs from Arizona to Florida have increasingly embraced social media as a tool to push their own narratives.

    Emphasis mine. I cannot think of two worse options to follow the examples of

    • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
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      8 months ago

      They’re following Trump’s example … if you can’t fight them with facts, just bellow out some bullshit.

    • TWeaK@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      Surely this is a state actor’s assault against the first amendment? The police are quelling the voice of the people.

  • Chickenstalker@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Why is a Police Department having any political power at all? They should shut up and do their work as a civil servant.

    • BaronOfHair@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      The adage “The police department is the most powerful gang in a city” isn’t simply a cheeky catch-phrase