Some of New York’s finest have a message for the New York Civil Liberties Union, and it’s not pretty.
Video of an officer dropping the “F” bomb while another flips off the camera was recently sent to the NYCLU through the organization’s controversial “Stop & Frisk Watch” smartphone app.
The NYCLU today released the clip in announcing its iPhone version of the app, which aims to capture video of police misconduct and regular stop-and-frisk encounters, which the NYCLU maintains are illegal.
The Android version of the app was released in June last year and about 20,000 New Yorkers have downloaded it, the NYCLU says. More than 200 videos documenting police “incidents” have been uploaded but users are expected to skyrocket now that it’s on the iPhone.
“‘Stop and Frisk Watch’ is a free and innovative smart phone application that empowers New Yorkers to monitor police activity and hold the NYPD accountable for unlawful stop-and-frisk encounters and other police misconduct,” the NYCLU says on its website.
Tapping a button starts recording, shaking your phone stops it and an easy button immediately sends the clip with any other information users include to the NYCLU.
The app also includes a “Know Your Rights” section that instructs people about their rights when confronted by police.
The NYPD this week released 2011 stop-and-frisk data, which showed that nearly 90 percent of those targeted were either black or Hispanic.