NYPD implores citizens to submit photo and video evidence

Tired of the fuzz body-checking you right off your bike during Critical Mass rides? Well lucky you, New York Police Commish Ray Kelly is responding by flipping the switch on user-generated crime reports, enabling ordinary citizens to submit photos and video as evidence of criminal activity. Granted, we think it's always been the case that people could dial-a-detective if they've got a hot lead on a crime, but here Kelly specifically referred to the "fact of life" that nowadays "everybody has a camera in their telephones. When people can record an event taking place that helps us during an investigation, it's helpful." Details are not yet clear, like how much manpower it's going to take to weed through the billions of tattle-tale clips that will inevitably be sent in of Sbux line-cutters, or what codecs the NYPD will support (fingers crossed for motion-JPEG and 3GPP).

[Via The Raw Feed]

[Brent @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:27AM]

i lol'd at codec support, first

[Grant @ Aug 2nd 2008 11:44AM]

Isn't the first thing a little old?
I mean sure, when the internet was first birthed full Al Gores anus, it was a cute little gesture, but now?

We could always give you the benefit of a doubt and assume you got your first computer yesterday, and even though i'm sure you new pink Dell laptop is just so fucking awesome cause it matches your shoes, but you should not think this whole "Posting first is sooo cool and requires me to notify everyone!!!" and that it's witty and some crazy idea you just thought up.

But, since you used the word codec, i am going to assume you've surfed the interwebz at least once before, and therefore should just know better.

[who? @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:29AM]

No snitchin'

[Ghen @ Aug 2nd 2008 7:35AM]

dumbass.

[Rob @ Aug 2nd 2008 9:00AM]

F-ck you!!!
Tell me no snitching when some one is shooting at you and you're lying on the street dying and crying for your mommy. Dumbass.

[nDee @ Aug 2nd 2008 9:50AM]

"Real player found no suitable video codec."

[The Joker @ Aug 2nd 2008 9:52AM]

A year ago these cops and lawyers wouldn't dare cross any of you. I mean, what happened?

[chris @ Aug 2nd 2008 10:26AM]

Hah, I wondered, when reading the RSS feed if there would be some anti-snitch BITCH comment. As Rob said, f-ck you and all the no-snitch jackasses. ALL OF THEM. Yar!!

As RickiG pointed out (essentially), these days, it's only a crime if you get caught. And we wonder why frightened parents don't let their kids play outside any longer.

[ShadowKain @ Aug 4th 2008 10:35AM]

@ndee

Pathetic that you posted an individual comment to a dumbass one JUST to get noticed at the top of the board. Get a freaking life...

[Sirirat Traiviratana @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:47AM]

Too bad iPhone cannot take the video.

[Muhammed @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:54AM]

Neither can it take the photo!

[JAmerican @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:59AM]

LOL what a worthless fashion statement. But it will be old news in a year trust me. :)

Low Ranked for sure!

[Richie @ Aug 2nd 2008 8:33AM]

baww more

[Goaty @ Aug 2nd 2008 12:31PM]

more reason for apple to add video in, free advertising! "i captured the office shoot my son with my brand new 3g iphone....available in white"

[A.C.E.R. @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:52AM]

I'm gonna send them goat porn.

[Samboini @ Aug 2nd 2008 7:41AM]

Why would you want the world your see your home videos?

[albtms @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:53AM]

That's hardly a clear pic. Why, it could be a friendly officer rushing into catch the cyclist from tipping over.

[dcee @ Aug 2nd 2008 6:08AM]

Check the video, it'll clear your mind.

[Artie Lange @ Aug 2nd 2008 6:18AM]

You've got to see the video - its awesome. That neo-hippy hipster-doofus got pwnd.

Low rank in 3...2...1...

[404 @ Aug 2nd 2008 6:23AM]

Follow the link and watch the video. The only thing that friendly officer was helping with was shoving the cyclist over.

[404 @ Aug 2nd 2008 6:25AM]

Dammit Engadget, fix your frakkin' comment system! If the other replies to albtms had loaded I wouldn't have bothered commenting!

*Rawr!*

[Tubalcain @ Aug 2nd 2008 7:10AM]

I believe that's the same guy who lost his badge over this. He tackled the cyclist and then charged him with all types of crap. Fuck the Police! with their Nazi like behavior.

[Nick @ Aug 2nd 2008 9:13AM]

Yea real friendly, and don't be telling me that they were tracking this guy down.. I remember being there at the Cycling Critical Mass, that is fun if just go there just for a day.

And WTF.. Cops will always be cops, THEY stand in the MIDDLE of the street, its like they're asking for a distracted biker to just ride into them!

Cheers.
Nick

[phanbouy @ Aug 2nd 2008 2:52PM]

"Low rank in 3...2...1.."

well at least you admit the garbage you spew is bound to be reviled by others, Arthur

[Ian @ Aug 2nd 2008 3:17PM]

"Low rank in 3...2...1..."

Voted up! Never fear.

Two of these losers were arrested here in Seattle. They surrounded a guys car in an intersection and started beating on his hood. He then tried to get away by backing up, bumped into and ran over a bike behind him (cyclist not hurt). He then got out of his car (why, I dunno, to see if anyone was hurt?) then the cyclist knob jockeys beat the crap out of him.

One cycle thug is still be sought by the police.

[phanbouy @ Aug 2nd 2008 3:30PM]

Hey Ian,

Once I heard of this car driver that plowed into someone, killing him. He then fled the scene.

Oh wait, this happens hundreds of times all over the country.

Nah.... but I heard from my cousin that someone who rides a bicycle like totally was a douche to someone, therefore I HOPE ALL BIKE RIDERS GET BEAT UP! including my 8 year old niece who rides to get ice cream, and my friends who are too poor to drive, or my uncle who has bad knees and wants exercise. YEP! SLANDER THEM ALL!

way to use conjecture to promote violence

[Artie Lange @ Aug 2nd 2008 3:47PM]

Phanbouy, you're a really angry guy. I think less time yelling at anonymous people on the internet and more time making friends would do you wonders. And no, your mom does not count. Neither does your cat.

[albtms @ Aug 2nd 2008 7:29PM]

Come on people, it was a joke... note the usage of "friendly officer" and "helping". Do I really have to throw in some emoticons to make myself clear?





XD

[jollyllama @ Aug 2nd 2008 9:13PM]

Hi Ian,

Fellow Seattlite here. Why are you making up this rediculous story about the July 25th incident? Buy most witness accounts the driver was the aggressor, he's the one that started moving his car into a crowd of cyclists, and they responded in kind (for what it's worth, when someone is assualting you with a deadly weapon, "in kind" response is usaully pretty harsh). No question that there was a mob mentality that took over, but you're kind of asking for it when you do something as stupid as what this hotheaded fratboy did.

But hey, it's easier just to lie about a situation to support your views than telling the truth, isn't it?

[Homeboy @ Aug 2nd 2008 6:22AM]

Well good luck not getting beat down when a group for 4 police officers notice you videotaping them committing a crime. Eventhough you're innocent of making any crime what even accusation them make up in court will be eaten up and swallowed by any judge in court.

[zorg @ Aug 2nd 2008 6:47AM]

Cool! I'm sending in an incriminating pic of the Police Commish waving his dick in public.

Give me a few minutes and he'll be fondling a child in it, too!

[orion @ Aug 2nd 2008 7:15AM]

Will they ever do it in the uk. The number of times I have spotted a bike lifted - or a number plate lying on a lawn, or something clearly a bit dodge, and would happily send it to the met, btu decided I really cant be bothered to call them, it would be handy if there was somewhere to send a quick text or an MMS (for free please!) with something like that. They could even recruit Amazon mturk for helping to sift the wheat from chaff.

[Joseph Singer @ Aug 2nd 2008 9:02AM]

Here in Washington state US I can text tip486 followed by the "tip" to 274637.

[RickiG @ Aug 2nd 2008 7:19AM]

Yeah I would be reluctant to pull out my camera and start filming the police if this goes through.

Also I could imagine this kind of thing diluting the system... so that the general view would switch towards: if some crime happened in public and it DID NOT get recorded by someone.. it didn't happened, case dismissed!

[Artie Lange @ Aug 2nd 2008 7:44AM]

Oh SNAP! Sonny's spittin' in yo face, Technex! You gonna take that?!?!

[Surur @ Aug 2nd 2008 8:05AM]

Unfortunately, seeing how Jobs are refusing them video, iPhone users will be denied justice, unless a friendly WM, Blackberry, Razr or even Sidekick user comes along.

[Eric @ Aug 2nd 2008 8:51AM]

Can't wait to see the first story about the shooting victim who was shot because he was taking pictures of a crime.

Most of this stuff will be worthless in court anyway.

[deyanimay @ Aug 2nd 2008 9:07AM]

The real question is why didn't they tackle more criminal bike riders.

[phanbouy @ Aug 2nd 2008 2:49PM]

outlaw bikes and only outlaws will have bikes

isn't that what you rednecks always like to say about a different issue?

[Nick @ Aug 2nd 2008 9:09AM]

I live about an hour away (by car) from New York City, so many people think its wrong to be cycling, sons of a b****es, yea sure they were looking for that guy... NOT..

See, how can our nation be uncorrupted when half of the law enforcement is spoiled with rotten and distrustful cops.

Whatever, fighting won't help, these people will normally makea generally good excuse and then get away with it....

Cheers.
Nick

[Kennyb123 @ Aug 2nd 2008 10:51AM]

Really? HALF? You have, along with 90% of forum posters, such a negative and incorrect view of law enforcement, it's almost comical.

Yes, I am in law enforcement, and even though lots of my colleagues are pricks, it does not make them distrustful. Believe it or not, 95% or higher of law enforcement really care about their job, and those who they are sworn to protect. You hear about the rotten apples, and assume it's half.

I'll probably get voted down by all the haters out there, but just know that if you flick me off and swear at me in public, I'll still help you if you need it the next day.

[phanbouy @ Aug 2nd 2008 12:49PM]

Ken,

While I'm sure the majority of law enforcement personnel are benevolent and well intentioned like you say, I think it's the _culture_ of apathy and other kinds of groupthink, all too common in human nature in general, that become endemic. Here in San Francisco, the SFPD have notoriety as a good old boys network more interested in self-aggrandizement than public service.

I think you'll agree that the right to assemble being abridged and general, and other erosions of freedoms, are currently a bigger and more important challenge than public safety.

[diode3diode @ Aug 2nd 2008 12:56PM]

@kennyb123
I think a lot of people have a negative reaction to law enforcement because we see that some are pricks (like the video above). If you put the average pedestrian in place of the officer, would pedestrian shove that bicyclist like that? The point is, it's hard trusting people these days, and it's harder still to trust law enforcement when we see something like this, an unnecessary excessive use of force.

[Gotta My Assa Kicked @ Aug 2nd 2008 2:23PM]

Well, as a teen I got my assk kicked by cops more than once. Yeah, I was a smart mouth retard - but I mean they would beat the crap out of me and throw me in jail simply for opening my mouth and questioning authority - NOT breaking the law or provoking them.

Simply asking "why" when commanded to "come here" got me a police radio to the face and a night in jail in one instance. Mind you, I was committing no crime other than standing on the sidewalk in the city and looking up for a long time (Ironically, I was standing there looking up because I was watching a crime take place - which the cops never noticed through the whole ordeal of beating the crap out of me...)

This is only one example. In my teen years I have many of these. I was no angel, and would happen to be in the wrong places because of that - but I was abused by police. In fact, the one time I called them to my home for help, I, again spent the night in jail while the person who was running around with a gun was let free.

So, as an adult - a law abiding citizen - I'm quite literally afraid of the police. I will not call them in practically any situation. When I see a cop I feel more fear than I do when I see a criminal. Not because of a distorted perception, but because a cop can do anything they want to you, and you can wind up in jail for it.

[Ryan @ Aug 2nd 2008 9:14AM]

Don't they treat you like a criminal if you're using your camera near 'security zones' like bridges tunnels and mass transit?

I guess we can send in pictures of our rights being violated when that happens...

[Fred @ Aug 2nd 2008 10:42AM]

Once i discovered that they consider poice officers sacred and untapeable, I erased the footage I had of a gangster shooting at a cop.

Sorry the bad guy gets away, but if I can't tape you guys, I won't bother to tape the guys who shoot at you.

Up yours, NYPD.

[John DeVries WFTN @ Aug 2nd 2008 10:58AM]

are the videos sent in with your name address and phone number? gotta wonder ...

[Grant @ Aug 2nd 2008 11:38AM]

So.....
Who wants to RickRoll the NYPD?

[tim @ Aug 2nd 2008 12:14PM]

Imagine this (lots of photos from different angles/times) + Photosynth.
That sounds "helpful", and it's automated, I think...

http://labs.live.com/photosynth

[sam @ Aug 2nd 2008 1:25PM]

When someone does something that helps, it's helpful.

Intensely profound logic from New York's finest.