NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly was grilled by City Council members at a hearing today, and while most of the questioning had to do with the NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy and Muslim surveillance, Popeye also addressed his department's treatment of the fourth estate. The NYPD has been criticized for allegedly harassing journalists, particularly when policing political demonstrations. After today's hearing, Politicker asked Kelly about the NYPD's relationship status with the media.
"I think we’re doing well," Kelly said, in the spirit of his wooden Italian marionette Paul Browne. "I think we have a good relationship with the press... I think the nature of what we do, sometimes out in the street, there’s going to be some pushing and shoving. That’s just the world in which you live and the police live." Photographer Andrew Gombert was the most recent journalist subjected to such "pushing and shoving" when a cop smacked his camera as he covered a protest.
Despite many complaints from the media that officers have arrested and harased reporters who are covering demonstrations, it appears that only one officer has been reprimanded suppressing journalists: for blocking photographer Robert Stolarik as he tried to document arrests at a protest in January. In November, the media's relationship with the NYPD was so "good" that a group of media outlets demanded a meeting with the NYPD to prevent the police/press relationship from further deteriorating.
During that meeting, the NYPD promised to hold a "meeting of all the borough task for commanders" to address press issues, and the Times fired off another letter last month warning Kelly "not to underestimate our resolve in working to rectify these issues." According to the anti-love letter, the NYPD has not provided any proof of additional training that was supposed to be applied "both to rookie officers and to experienced members of the force." Proof? Why must Kelly always prove his commitment to this relationship. Stop being so needy, media, and try to accept that the NYPD really does care. They just have their own special way of showing it.
