Critics of the NYPD’s counterterrorism operations say it has amassed unprecedented powers with very little, if any, real oversight.
From its partnership with the CIA to spy on Muslim Americans to overseas offices that sometimes bump heads with the FBI, critics charge that the NYPD has become a force unto itself, conducting activities that congressional oversight committee and Constitutional privacy protections have prohibited federal intelligence from carrying out.
Now the critics have something else to chew on: the NYPD’s antiaircraft capability, historically the domain of the Defense Department.
According to NYPD Chief Ray Kelly, his police force has the capability to bring down hijacked aircraft.
“Well, it's something that's on our radar screen. I mean in an extreme situation, you would have some means to take down a plane,” Kelley said during a gushing “60 Minutes” feature on the NYPD’s counterterrorism programs Sunday night.
“Do you mean to say that the NYPD has the means to take down an aircraft?” asked “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley.
“Yes,” Kelly said, “I prefer not to get into the details but obviously this would be in a very extreme situation.”
Pelley: “You have the equipment and the training.”
Kelly: “Yes.”
Since Congress has no oversight of the NYPD, and New York City council member Peter Vallone has shown little inclination to press the police for answers about anything, it could well be that no one in power will demand answers about the Big Apple’s antiaircraft unit. But they should.
From its partnership with the CIA to spy on Muslim Americans to overseas offices that sometimes bump heads with the FBI, critics charge that the NYPD has become a force unto itself, conducting activities that congressional oversight committee and Constitutional privacy protections have prohibited federal intelligence from carrying out.
Now the critics have something else to chew on: the NYPD’s antiaircraft capability, historically the domain of the Defense Department.
According to NYPD Chief Ray Kelly, his police force has the capability to bring down hijacked aircraft.
“Well, it's something that's on our radar screen. I mean in an extreme situation, you would have some means to take down a plane,” Kelley said during a gushing “60 Minutes” feature on the NYPD’s counterterrorism programs Sunday night.
“Do you mean to say that the NYPD has the means to take down an aircraft?” asked “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley.
“Yes,” Kelly said, “I prefer not to get into the details but obviously this would be in a very extreme situation.”
Pelley: “You have the equipment and the training.”
Kelly: “Yes.”
Since Congress has no oversight of the NYPD, and New York City council member Peter Vallone has shown little inclination to press the police for answers about anything, it could well be that no one in power will demand answers about the Big Apple’s antiaircraft unit. But they should.
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1 comment:
The NYPD is totally out of control.
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