Peaceful Strategies
Know Your Rights
Armed with cameras, communication and more, Cop watchers proactively respond to and document police stops to encourage police to act appropriately and provide evidence of misconduct.
The goal of cop watching is police transparency. PSP NYC seeks to train the community to keep the NYPD accountable by filming their actions, acclimating officers to being watched We hope that citizen cameras will encourage officers to act ethically when performing their duties. We believe this will create an environment where the community will work peacefully to safeguard individual rights.
By being a visible presence in the community we can outreach to individuals who have been victimized by the NYPD, and those who are sympathetic, creating a conscientious community that peacefully but assertively defends their individual rights we can erode violence-based NYPD monopoly of force.
Become A Watcher
Ordinary people stopping and filming the police can mean that officers behave differently than they would if no-one was watching and recording their actions. This might make the experience for the person who has been stopped far less intimidating or threatening. The more often the police are filmed stopping people, the more officers may come to expect that they may be filmed in the future, which can influence the way they generally treat people and whether stop & frisk powers are routinely used indiscriminately. If police officers have acted unlawfully, filming them can help provide evidence if there is a formal complaint or if someone is arrested.
There is no expectation of privacy in a public place. You always have the right to film anyone and anything. However if you get too close to an officer performing his duties you may be charged with obstruction.
Community Outreach Events
If government agents question you, it is important to understand your rights. You should be careful about what you say when approached by federal, state or local law enforcement officials. If you give answers, they can be used against you in a criminal, immigration, or civil case.
We rely on the police to keep us safe and treat us all fairly, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin or religion. This training provides guidelines for interacting with police and understanding your rights.
From time to time the Peaceful Streets Project NYC will partner with other organizations such as the Police Reform Organizing Project (PROP), We Are Change, or other grassroots groups to put on community outreach events, including but not limited to "Know Your Rights" training. Please check our News & Events page for upcoming events.
Cop Watch
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