Handschu and TARU

About one week before the February Critical Mass ride the NYPD was found to be in violation of court order to stop aggresive video taping of innocent civilians.

To catch you up after the 2004 Republican National Convention (RNC) the NYPD has used incredibly aggressive spy-like tactics to videotape innocent civilians, protesters and demonstrators. Tactics included using a blimp and high powered lenses to peer down into the city, hidden cameras in shirts and baseball caps and using plainclothes officers to pose as video capturing tourists. In the past TARU has been know for "sweeping" crowds of people to capture as many faces as possible as well as directly pointing videocameras in people's faces to intimidate them.

Well no more.. at least for now. Its seems as though the NYPD's has turned over a new leaf. At the February CM TARU was out in force with bright shiny new jackets and upon being challenged they were cordial, displayed their video camera and acknowledged the Handschu agreement.

I have to say that I'm impressed and also embarrassed by my own actions that night. I challenged and they responded politely. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised.

I tip my e-hat to you NYPD... please keep it up!

Now everyone else go read more at I-Witness Video