The Department of Investigation is opening an investigation into NYPD officers’ use of social media

The city’s Department of Investigation has opened an investigation into allegations that senior NYPD officers violated local laws by hiding allegedly politically charged social media posts, a spokeswoman for the watchdog agency told the Daily News on Wednesday.

Spokeswoman Diane Struzzi said the investigation was launched in response to investigative requests from Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and the Legal Aid Society.

“In light of the requests, DOI has begun an investigation into relevant social media usage and sharing, as well as applicable city policies,” Struzzi said.

The NYPD press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

“Speaker Adams’ request, filed Friday with the DOI’s NYPD Inspector General, referred to recent posts regarding the use of city resources for political purposes.”

The posts in question include Chell dispatches from his official department account

Legal Aid’s request for DOI intervention called the police officers’ social media activity a “clear abuse of the NYPD’s authority.”

The city’s ethics code prohibits police officers from using city resources, such as: B. using the department’s social media accounts for obviously political purposes. The NYPD patrol leader bans police officers from engaging in political activity in an official capacity.

In addition to the DOI requests, dozens of local elected officials, including members of New York’s congressional delegation, sent a letter to Mayor Adams last week urging him to censure Chell for his recent social media posts.

The mayor defended Chell against the opposition, saying the chief was a “professional.”

Although he opposite

The increasing pressure on Chell and other NYPD officers comes as department leadership increases their public relations efforts on social media. Although NYPD officers faced criticism on some fronts, they received support from local Republicans.

“NYPD leadership has every right to explain their policies and defend their position as leaders of the agency on social media, especially against often unfounded and politicized attacks from media and elected officials,” Queens City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino said the most conservative members of the chamber, wrote on X in response to the announcement of the DOI investigation.

Legal Aid’s request for an investigation also asked the DOI to investigate whether the NYPD violated legal agreements by detaining “dozens” of pro-Palestinian protesters for more than 24 hours following raids on them last week were arrested on the campuses of Columbia University and City College. where protesters had set up camps and occupied an academic building.

The NYPD said it intervened and made arrests on campus after being asked to do so by school leaders.

Struzzi said the DOI’s investigation is focused only on the social media aspect, at least for now.