Following recent disputes on social media between council members who have publicly criticized the NYPD’s handling of protests at Columbia and other colleges, and officers who have publicly responded to their comments in defense of the department, NYC’s council has tried to address the issue directly with the NYPD.
During a City Council hearing on Thursday regarding the NYPD’s budget, police officials were questioned about the department’s use of social media to target politicians, advocates, and journalists, though none of these inquiries were explicitly answered by the officers.
The city’s Department of Investigation has started looking into posts by high-ranking members of the NYPD, amid calls for restraint and accountability within the department.
“There is a DOI investigation. We think it’s important that it be allowed to play out,” Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matter, Michael Gerber, said.
On Wednesday, the DOI launched a probe into the police department’s “relevant social media use and exchanges.” The investigation comes after the city council speaker and the Legal Aid Society’s request for a thorough assessment for the issue.
One of the most recent instances of a police official getting involved in a social media dispute was when Chief of Patrol John Chell retaliated to Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán’s posts on X that were in support of student protestors and criticized the NYPD for their shutdowns of the demonstrations.
When probed specifically about the posts Chell made, which have since been taken down, officials referred to the DOI investigation.
“Do you feel the post should have been deleted? Do you feel it was deleted improperly? Do you feel it should have come back?” City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams asked NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban. “Commissioner, did you instruct the Chief to delete the post?’
“It’s inappropriate for me to comment while the process is ongoing,” Caban said in response to the questions.
Chell and his colleagues Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Kaz Daughtry, who was also involved in a controversy over online statements, and Deputy Commissioner of Public Information, Tarik Sheppard, were not present at the hearing on Thursday.
Councilwoman Cabán, who was present at the hearing, argued that the NYPD needs to take accountability for its criticized conduct at protests and on social media.
On Wednesday, the city’s Civilian Complaint Review Board announced that nearly 40 police officers are facing allegations in connection to their behavior during pro-Palestinian protests at city universities.
