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IP addresses linked to the New York Police Department's computer network have been used to sanitize Wikipedia entries about cases of police brutality.
This wouldn't be the first time we've seen nefarious alterations to Wikipedia entries, and it won't be the last. But the disclosure of NYPD's entries by Capital New York come as the Justice Department announced a national initiative for "building community trust and justice" with the nation's policing agencies.
As many as 85 IP addresses connected to 1 Police Plaza altered entries for some of the most high-profile police abuse cases, including those for victims Eric Garner, Sean Bell, and Amadou Diallo, Capital New York said. Edits have also been made to other entries covering NYPD scandals, its stop-and-frisk program, and the department leadership.
(Score: 1) by Mr Big in the Pants on Tuesday March 17 2015, @10:06PM
I spoke to several career policemen. They told a different story. NB: Not from the US but still a first world country with "low corruption".
They said explicitly that you will be asked to lie under oath all the time. If you don't your "mates" and especially your superiors will bully and harass you until you tow the line or quit. If you cannot handle that, then don't bother joining.
This was frank advice given to someone who said one of the reasons they wanted to join was that they were an honest person.
I will give you the benefit of the doubt and accept that this was not your reality and that lying under oath to get a conviction for someone "you know is guilty" is not something you ever did. I doubt this is not commonplace overall though.
It is not police though and I have nothing against them personally. (I spent 8 years training under and with several who are very good friends)
It is power. Any small minded humans with too much power is NEVER a good thing. And giving power to people can make them small minded to boot. And most people are small minded.
(Score: 2) by arashi no garou on Wednesday March 18 2015, @02:12AM
Lying under oath and lying to a citizen/the public are two different things. It sounds like you spoke to some pretty corrupt individuals.
Just for clarity's sake: I was never a peace officer myself, I worked in the administrative side with and around police officers. I did have to testify in court a few times when I worked as an evidence technician, but if I had lied under oath I would not only have been reprimanded and likely fired, I would have faced criminal charges too. The US courts (at least, those in my little corner of it) treat perjury very seriously.
(Score: 1) by Mr Big in the Pants on Wednesday March 18 2015, @03:43AM
Not at all special cases. This is standard practice. Its too hard to catch people the usual way so they just lie to make it easier.
They have been caught out in several recent cases that made it public - some embarrassingly bad lies. Many will not be public.
And since it IS an offence then I doubt people will ever admit to it and it is tied up with all the usual human biases so the truth is not a black and white thing. (pun not intended...)
(Score: 2) by arashi no garou on Wednesday March 18 2015, @12:42PM
Then it sounds like wherever you are, you have it worse off than most of the US.