NYPD Union Uses Flickr in Innovative New Push to Shame the Homeless

Cops usually are not allowed to take pictures of members of the general public whereas on obligation, so Mullins wrote that pictures may be taken whereas touring to and from work or any time whereas off obligation.

Mullins has a hostile relationship with city mayor Bill de Blasio and the city council and has complained that New York City is in decline because of increased permissiveness over vagrancy, urinating in public, smoking marijuana on the street and homelessness.

“As you travel about the city of New York, please utilize your smartphones to photograph the homeless lying in our streets, aggressive panhandlers, people urinating in public or engaging in open-air drug activity, and quality-of-life offences of every type”, Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins wrote in a letter obtained by the New York Post.

“I see New York City deteriorating”, Mullins told WPIX. “I see quality-of-life crimes all over the city, homeless all in our streets”.

Mullins criticized a mess of pending Metropolis Council proposals relating to the NYPD, together with the Proper To Know Act, which might require cops to acquire permission from a suspect earlier than conducting a search with out possible trigger for arrest.

It seems that several New Yorkers agree with Mullins’ assessment, with a majority of those polled saying that de Blasio has not handled the issue well, even with his recent announcement of “a $22 million mental health initiative that his administration says will aid the homeless”. “It’s not fair to the people that we represent, people that we serve”.

The NYPD and City Hall have not immediately responded to requests for comments.

The union launched a Flickr album this week featuring the first photos from its members.

Bobby Watts, executive director of the Care for the Homeless organization, speaks for those who can’t speak for themselves.