NYPD Internal Affairs Cover Up Pressgate

The NYPD 'that never sleeps' throws several huge events during the year. From 9/11 memorial events, to the Tower to Tunnel Run, and from New Year's Eve in Times Square to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, these events are all really run by the NYC police and agencies governed by NYPD.

Whenever a single organization has exclusive control it can monopolize large public events, which usually results in a serious conflict of interest and becomes a real concern for citizens.
If you combine an open piggy-bank of tax-payers' money with a powerful agency like the NYPD that governs itself, you have a formula for disaster. And when you are part of the public you are – whether you like it or not – beholden to police powers. My mother always told me: “The state owns you.” How true, and in this case, the City of New York owns you too.

However – in America at least – we are supposed to have Freedom of the Press to keep tabs on government employees or officials who abuse their trust and power. But the Press holds little sway with the NYPD and its “Mother City,” corruptly run by Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Co.

For almost every public event held in New York City, the NYPD has set up an 'old boys club' that largely does not allow the out-of-state Press to cover events that the police rule over. The oppressive anti-Press system that the NYPD controls is at best corrupt, and at worst, illegal.
If you have a Press Card from any state besides New York, you generally cannot cover any official events in NYC. Sadly, and tragically, the Police in NYC only recognize their own Press card. Any other Press representatives are required to fill out a two-page application and then also convince the NYPD and city gatekeepers that you are worthy and also are '100 percent Pro-Police.' The right to publish and disseminate an opinion without restraint or censorship almost seems ridiculous as the First Amendment is abused every single day in the “City That Never Sleeps.”

The following information is copied directly from the NYPD Press website. (https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/media/newsroom/media-credentials.page)

“NYPD working press credentials are available only through DCPI (Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information), located at Police Headquarters in Lower Manhattan. Applicants may request an appointment with a DCPI staff member to review completed applications by emailing DCPIRequests@nypd.org. Appointments are scheduled Tuesday through Thursday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.” (One has to wonder what the office clerks do on Monday and Friday …).

While that information above seems straightforward enough, it is an illusion. A simple look between the lines of what they call “Eligibility” will suffice to show the cracks. To wit:
Eligibility

“To be eligible to receive the NYPD Press Card, an applicant must be a member of the media who covers in person, any emergency, spot, or breaking news events and/or public events of a non-emergency nature, where police and fire lines or other restrictions, limitations, or barriers established by the City of New York have been set up for security or crowd-control purposes. HERE IS THE KEY SENTENCE: Applicants who cover events sponsored by the City of New York which are open to members of the press are also eligible.''

These are a few of the ways that the NYPD keeps away members of the Press who may not have a friendly view of the manner in which certain events are handled. And there are other tools they use to control the process.
The DCPI office is a sham. Police officers such as Arlene Muniz work as the first buffer-line for a Press member obtaining and submitting paperwork back to that office. Officer Muniz is very good at not providing direct answers to simple questions. She does not reply to e-mails as their Website says they will, nor can she ever seem to find printed applications or required supplemental paperwork.

After several weeks of frustration, most out-of-state news groups and reporters simply give up. If the Press members who cannot break through the buffer-lines, they can always complain to the NYPD Internal Affairs Department. The only problem with that is, the NYPD Internal Affairs Department will not take a complaint about the NYPD Press Office or DCPI.

It's high time that the Deputy Commissioner of Internal Affairs, Joseph Reznick, does some serious house-cleaning at that stale ole' boys club at Internal Affairs.
And to NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill, you need to fire police officer Arlene Muniz and her lackeys.
You should be concerned about the hearts and minds of the people of New York that you help to isolate and keep in the dark. We the people do not deserve to be bullied or discriminated against, or get denials of equal treatment. You are the NYC Police Department. Start acting like it.