Categories: News

#MyNYPD Campaign Backfires, Exposes Police Misconduct, Brutality

The NYPD learned the risks of staring a Twitter campaign on Tuesday when they started the hashtag #MyNYPD, only to have New Yorkers use the hashtag to publicize NYPD misconduct.

The NYPD’s official Twitter handle, @NYPDnews, started the hashtag ‘MyNYPD’ on Tuesday, April 22, asking the public to share photos with NYPD officers using the hashtag. Especially heartwarming photos, they promised, would be featured on their official Facebook page.

“Do you have a photo w/ a member of the NYPD? Tweet us & tag it #myNYPD,” they wrote.

The campaign, clearly meant to inspire a wave of good PR for the Police Department backfired majorly when it became a trending topic full of tweets highlighting stories of police brutality. It didn’t help that Occupy Wall Street quickly caught wind of the hashtag and encouraged users to share photos of police misconduct.

Many used the hashtag to critique New York’s controversial ‘Stop and Frisk’ policy and expose instances of police brutality.

The NYPD released a statement about the hashtag, without actively addressing the negative feedback it inspired, saying, “The NYPD is creating new ways to communicate effectively with the community. Twitter provide an open forum for an uncensored exchange and this is an open dialogue good for our city.”

The hashtag soon spread across the country to include instances of police misconduct from cities around the world, with #myLAPD, #myOPD (Oakland PD) and #myCPD (Chicago) gaining traction in the US. Greece also joined the hashtag on police brutality, making a ‘#myELAS.’

Though the campaign did manage to receive a few positive responses, the NYPD has yet to upload any photos from the #myNYPD to their Facebook.

Olivia Truffaut-Wong

uInterview

Share
Published by
uInterview

Recent Posts

Lorde Prepares For 2025 ‘Ultrasound’ Tour – Setlist & Ticket Info

Lorde will be joined on select dates by artists The Japanese House, Chanel Beads, Empress…

2 hours ago

After Trump Is Reminded He Called Sean Combs ‘A Good Friend,’ Rapper 50 Cent Vows To Stop President From Pardoning Him

Rapper 50 Cent vowed to stop President Donald Trump from pardoning Sean Combs. During a…

2 hours ago

Sir Ian McKellen Set To Open ‘Twelfth Night’ Adaptation With All Trans & Non-Binary Cast

Lord of the Rings star Sir Ian McKellen is set to open Trans What You…

3 hours ago

Disneyland Plans To Bring Walt Disney Alive As Animatron – Despite Protests From His Family

The July 17 debut of Walt Disney – A Magical Life will coincide with Disneyland’s…

8 hours ago

Prince Harry Considers Changing His Famous Surname – And Taking Late Mother Diana’s

Mountbatten-Windsor is the British royal family’s official surname used by some descendants of the late…

8 hours ago

Ben Stiller Reacts To Pat McAfee’s ‘Weird’ Commentary At Knicks-Pacers Game

Ben Stiller said sports analyst Pat McAfee had “weird” commentary at a basketball game. The…

9 hours ago