NYPD Caught Lying About Ray Kelly's Role In Anti-Islam Propaganda Film

We don't want to alarm anyone, but it appears that NYPD spokesman Paul Browne has been caught in a fib. Or, as the NY Times generously puts it, Browne suddenly "remembered" on Tuesday that what he remembered on Monday was not specifically too true! This blow to Browne's sterling reputation for transparency came after the producer of an Islamophobic propaganda documentary proved that Commissioner Ray Kelly knowingly sat for an interview. This directly contradicts Browne's earlier claim that Kelly's appearance in the movie, called The Third Jihad, was culled from old interviews without the NYPD's permission. So sorry to disillusion you.

Browne was questioned by the Times on Monday after The Brennan Center for Justice used the Freedom of Information Law to obtain documents related to the NYPD's use of The Third Jihad. The movie first came to light in January 2011 after investigative reporter Tom Robbins published an expose about it in The Village Voice—at that time Paul Browne dismissed it as just a "wacky movie" that had only been shown "a couple of times when officers were filling out paperwork before the actual coursework began." However, documents obtained by The Brennan Center show the film was screened for 68 lieutenants, 159 sergeants, 31 detectives and 1,231 patrol officers.

Here's a 30-minute of the film:

After Browne told the Times on Monday that Kelly's appearance in the film was lifted from old unrelated interviews, The Third Jihad's producer, Raphael Shore, emailed the Times to show that Kelly had been interviewed for the film at NYPD Headquarters. "He’s right," Browne admitted yesterday. "In fact, I recommended in February 2007 that Commissioner Kelly be interviewed. Commissioner Kelly told me today that the video was objectionable, and that he should not have agreed to the interview five years ago, when I recommended it."

The The Third Jihad insists that when it comes to mainstream Muslims, "one of their primary tactics is deception." Speaking of deception, Browne insists that the film's director told him The Third Jihad would be about "foiled terrorist plots and the current threat matrix." But Shore, the producer, tells the Times that Browne "was informed that the interview was for a documentary on radical Islam."

At a press conference in Albany yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg was asked about the documentary, which was screened on "a continuous loop" for an undetermined amount of time during the NYPD's "sign-in, medical and administrative orientation process." Bloomberg told reporters, "Somebody exercised terrible judgment. As soon as they found out about it, they stopped it." At press time, somebody's pants were still engulfed in flames.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on January 25, 2012 10:01 AM

Comments [rss]

aktobk

If there's nothing wrong with the film, why lie about showing it?

napalm2

Maybe they should also show the documentaries of when the CIA/U.S government was working side by side with Bin laden and even funded these so-called boogie-men terrorists Al Qaeda with $6 billion in the 80s and 90s (and probably to this day) in their fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan?

And then maybe even the NYPD will realize why they REALLY lost so many fellow officers on 9/11,

shocktheday

Nothing keeps incumbents in power like fear. Israelis know this too well.

pete_mac

Nothing shocking or new is this documentary. Nothing wrong with showing it to NYPD, but you should also show them documentaries about the IRA. Just as relavent bc they invented many of the tactics used by Muslim groups. Belfast used to be the only functioning city in the world that had active terrorist cells engaged in *War*. The real lesson is how to train the peace-keepers in how to deal with it if it happens.

Sulayman

Absolutely not. This isn't a video about tactics, it's specifically aimed at trying to convince you that every single Muslim is a danger to you. It's hate speech, which is why the actual counterterrorism experts all shun the movie in FBI, CIA, NYPD circles. It's as effective in fighting crime as a KKK video talking about the "black threat."

napalm2

Now, if I'm not mistaking, the IRA is a Ireland based terrorist organization.
If I'm still not mistaking, Ray Kelly is Irish.
And if I'm still not mistaking, most, if not all of the higher ups in the NYPD, are Irish.

pete_mac

Er, NYPD are all born in the US... and most people in Ireland don't even understand the IRA. Nasty, manipulative shit.

randomtransplant

Sending spies into mosques, getting the FBI called on you for stakeouts in New Jersey, and showing "secret" propaganda films.

This isn't even an isolated incident.

Throw in the stop & frisks, disproportionate incarceration rates, and biased promotion results & one might even conclude the NYPD is as racist as they are incompetent.

They should try addressing the crimes people actually report instead.

felixthecat

address crimes? LOL. they are COWARDS. They hid in their cars with their spiked coffee cups and donuts. They won't even get out of their cars if it is too cold. They hardly walk. they just guardrail the whole streets and scratch their asses. This is the only union that hasn't received any cuts. these assholes make over 100,000 and that doesn't include overtime and benefits. They serve their masters well so they are rewarded well. Look at FDNY, they actually risk their lives and yet Bloomberg attacks them and risk their safety with all the cuts. Look at the teachers, Bloomberg attacks them. However, he only has praise for NYPD. they can't do no wrong.

TakeThePledge

Just a couple things here:

1- More cops die while working then firemen every year (just as dangerous jobs though, can't take away from that)

2- Bloomberg doesn't attack FDNY or teachers. If you ask, he'll say they are the best in the country. What he does attack, is pay and benefits and obviously the police aren't exempt from that , he talks about their pensions all the time.

3- cops don't make over 100,000 without overtime and benefits. I just looked on their site, the highest a cop can earn is 76,000 base pay.

I get it though. We don't like the police. I got a ticket last week for not using a turn signal. Like, come on.

I don't think we have to like the police though. Would you rather a teacher that your kid likes, or one that they hate but are forced to learn and gets them into college?

Guest

Police officer in ANY state is NOT considered a dangerous job. If you look at the percentage of injuries sustained by workers in a particular field police officer is way way down on the list. Crab fishermen. factory workers, farm workers all face greater risk and likelihood of being hurt on the job. All firefighters volunteer or paid have about a 25-30% chance of being injured every year.
Bottom line: Police Officer is not a dangerous job.

felixthecat

Nope, more firemen die on the jobs than NYPD and NYPD is the only one that receives no cuts nor accountability/performance unlike fdny, teachers and other unions.

TakeThePledge

No cuts? Didn't our police force shrink by like 8,000 cops in a matter of 4 years?

And more police die then firemen every year. 164 cops last year, 87 firemen. Some basic google skills will help you greatly.

ktinnyc

"cops don't make over 100,000 without overtime and benefits. I just looked on their site, the highest a cop can earn is 76,000 base pay."

After 5.5 years the Base Pay is 76,000 but you also get longevity pay, holiday pay, uniform allowance, and average night shift differential(what ever the hell that is) bringing the salary to 90,829. So in reality they are a lot closer to $100,000k than you would have us believe and when is the last time a cop didn't book overtime?

TakeThePledge

Yes, those are all benefits, not base salary. Like I said, cops don't make over 100,000 without overtime and benefits. I wasn't wrong.

alphabetsooty

And that's not counting the real paydays - what they score on the streets - grasseaters and meateaters alike

plus retire at 20 with fake disability and open a bar to deal your drugs from? sweet perqs....