Quantcast

Did Ray Kelly Violate NYPD Code Of Conduct By Lying About Anti-Islam Video?

012612kelly.jpg Last year, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly sent multiple letters to the city's Muslim leaders insisting the department "did not participate in" the production of an Islamophobic propaganda film that was screened on a continuous loop for over 1,200 NYPD officers. Then along came The Brennan Center for Justice and their meddlesome Freedom of Information Law requests, Kelly was forced to admit that he did knowingly participate in the film, titled The Third Jihad. And now, as some call for Kelly's resignation, The New York World takes a look at the NYPD guidelines and finds that Popeye probably broke some big rules. Surely he will hold himself accountable!

The NYPD has an internal policy prohibiting false statements, according to a copy of the policy provided by the NYCLU to The New York World. "It would seem that both Kelly and Browne violated this false statement policy - Kelly by 'lying in an official Department document' when he signed letters last year claiming no involvement in Third Jihad’s production, and Browne when he possibly 'created false description of events' by first claiming Kelly’s interview had not taken place, and then stating that it was he who had recommended Kelly do the interview," writes Pei Shan Hoe.

But this opens up a whole can of worms, because if the Kelly and Browne can't bend the truth a little to keep NYC safe, how are they supposed to fill quotas meet productivity goals? “It would certainly not be a stretch to say that, if Browne lied, that would call for dismissal under the policy," says NYCLU spokesman Chris Dunn. "Given that he was personally involved in arranging for the interview, one would certainly think that he knew what he told the Times was not accurate, but that is as far as one can go at this point."

And Noel Leader, the co-founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, tells Capital New York that Kelly's participation in the film violates the NYPD's Patrol Guide rules barring officers from associating with hateful materials or hateful organizations. "Since I've known officers to be terminated in the past for violating this procedure, he violated it, he should be terminated," says Leader.

So far no officials have called for Kelly to resign, but Councilmember Jumaane Williams has said that Browne should be fired, and other Councilmembers have joined him in calling for an investigation. Mayor Bloomberg stood by Kelly today, telling reporters he has "100 percent confidence" in Kelly and declaring, "Commissioner Kelly should not step down." And despite their frequent criticism of Kelly, the angry wags on the NYPD Rant message board are also standing behind the Commissioner. True to form, they're blaming the Times for reporting the story, with one writing: "OMG will the Times ever stop. If the Ragheads ever take over that Red Rag will last about ten minutes. Kill them all and let allah sort it out!"

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

Comments [rss]

  • splicernyc

    One man cannot have that much power...or look that much like Popeye.

  • mistermarkdavis

    I love new york but the NYPD gets a vote fo no confidence.

  • napalm2

    That blue wall of silence is staring to collapse, slowly but surely.
    Which will make NYers safer simply because now its the NYPD superiors who are being exposed for the racist, lying thug-orientated shit bags that they really are.
    Leaving no wonder as to why so many of these goon officers have been getting away with murder for so long.

    Ray Kelly is in charge of this criminal element and has been fully aware of all the corruption in the NYPD, and has always defended it publicly with the full knowledge and support from Bloomberg.
    Besides, all the crime state manipulation etc is all done in the name of bloomberg's legacy.

    What makes the cops look good = makes the commissioner look good = makes the mayor look good

    Birds of the same feather, flock together.

    But Bloomberg will hand out a few checks and this problem will be gone in a NY minute

  • For my part, I said that only Browne should resign...because he was stupid enough to divulge it. The NYPD does have reasonable search and seizure on occasion...but that is need to know.

  • Guest

    Since when is there an NYPD code of conduct?   Oh right, the lying, assaulting stop and frisk etc.

  • randomtransplant

    Racist, lying, no good scumbags in one police plaza actively training cadets to be racist, lying no good scumbags in their own image. 

    Fuck these guys. 

  • WZA

    *Does Ricki Lake hand motion to head towards door*

  • ThreeAndNine

    I am proud to say that I have no idea what that means.

  • BoogieDown

    Me neither, but I like the idea of Kelly being shown the door.

  • WZA

    Lol.

    Sorry, I tried to find a video that would explain what I was talking about. Basically, on the Ricki Lake show, if they audience didn't like what the guest had to say, they would make a pointing motion for that person to head towards the door. Like, Get out!

    My age, and too much television as a child is starting to show.

  • ThreeAndNine

    I had kind of guessed something like that, after I Googled to find out who Ricki Lake is.

blog comments powered by Disqus

send a tip

tips@gothamist.com