January 30th 2025.
The New York City Department of Investigation recently released a 44-page report on January 28th, calling out top officials in the NYPD for their irresponsible and unprofessional behavior on social media. According to Gothamist, the report revealed that these executives, including Chief of Department John Chell and Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry, violated city policies on courtesy and civility with their online activity.
While some of the findings were inconclusive, the DOI did raise concerns about whether these social media posts could be considered prohibited political activity by city employees. In a statement, Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber emphasized the importance of public officials using social media responsibly to promote accurate information and respectful dialogue, rather than using it as a platform to mock and ridicule others.
Unfortunately, this was not the case for the NYPD executives in question. As the largest police department in the nation, the NYPD has faced criticism for fostering a combative culture. This was evident in the tweets from Chell and Daughtry, where they targeted individuals such as a Supreme Court judge, journalists, public members, and elected officials. In one instance, Chell tweeted that Councilmember Tiffany Cabán "hates our city" after she criticized the NYPD's response to anti-Israel protests. He then urged his followers to "vote for the change you seek," a statement that may have violated the Hatch Act.
The report also highlighted multiple instances where Chell and Daughtry gave mocking nicknames to journalists who they accused of spreading false information about the administration's accomplishments. These attacks were found to be in violation of department policies on courtesy and civility, and raised further questions about potential political activity. The report stated that these actions "violated fundamental internal guidelines" and were cause for concern.
In response to the report, the NYPD released a statement through a spokesperson, acknowledging that significant changes have been made to their social media practices since the investigation began. However, it is unclear if any consequences will be faced by the officials involved in breaching department policy.
This issue of irresponsible and unprofessional behavior on social media is not unique to the NYPD. In fact, it has become a growing concern for many organizations and government agencies. In light of recent events, the NYPD has also warned US healthcare executives about an online "hitlist" after the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO. It is clear that more needs to be done to promote responsible and respectful behavior on social media, especially for those in positions of power and influence.
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