Widespread Spying Preceded '04 GOP Convention

Frosty Piss alerts us to a story in the New York Times reporting on details that are emerging of a far-flung spying operation lasting up to a year leading up to the 2004 Republican National Convention. The New York Police Department mounted a spy campaign reaching well beyond the state of New York. For at least a year before the convention, teams of undercover New York police officers traveled to cities across the US, Canada, and Europe to conduct covert observations of people who planned to protest at the convention. Across the country undercover officers attended meetings of political groups, posing as sympathizers or fellow activists. In at least some cases, intelligence on what appeared to be lawful activity was shared with other police departments. Outlines of the pre-convention operations are emerging from records in federal lawsuits brought over mass arrests during the convention.

Re:All that intelligence gathering for what?

[mikael]

Here's a link to the story:

Arrests at GOP convention criticised [archive.org]

Re:Knowing what to do?

[Jasin Natael]

4 billion in Iraq, isn't it?

400 billion, FWIW. Javascript Ticker [nationalpriorities.org]

Re:Looks like good policework

[Anonymous Coward]

Axel Foley was from Detroit, not New York.

Re:This is the police.

[wdr1]

Funny. Every time I do that, I end up with organized labor. They dominate [opensecrets.org] the list of groups throwing around their weight in terms of political contributions. Unions hold the #1 (AFSCME/$38 million), #6 (IBEW/$26M), #7 (Laborers/$25M), #9 (SEIU/$25M), and #10 (Carpenters & Joiners Union/$24M).

It's a shame as 1) people often have no choice & are forced to join the union, and 2) that money could be spent on improving the lives of their members.

-Bill

Re:Looks like good policework

[NMerriam]

Since the NYPD police have zero jurisdiction in California or any other place but their own city, they have no more or less rights than any other citizen. They are just regular people. So they can goto public meetings like any other US citizen can. They have no power of how to tell how the NYPD runs its police force, and to make some blanket statement to all police from any state would run afowl from Equal Protection.

No, police officers outside their jurisdictions but still acting in their official capacities are NOT "just regular people". They are still acting as agents of the government, they just don't have arrest powers in another state (actually they might depending on the situation, there is a great deal of vagueness since usually it's easier and more polite to have the local cops handle the arrest).

Residents of California have rights. Agents of the NYPD, who were there on official NYPD business, being paid by the NYPD, in activities directed by the NYPD, created and maintained records for the NYPD based on the mere conjecture that criminal charges might be filed (someday for some reason) by the NYPD, in complete violation of the California Constitution. They can't pretend they were just acting as random citizens while drawing a government paycheck for the very activities in question.

Anyone acting as a government agent is required to observe the legal rights of citizens. That's why cops can't just call their friend Bob and have him conduct an illegal search rather than going to the trouble of getting a warrant. Just because Bob can't arrest anyone or hand out tickets doesn't mean he isn't acting as a government agent in the search.

You're right, of course that California can't tell cops what to do outside California. But the minute those NYPD officers came into California on government business, you better bet they have to respect the rights of citizens the same as any other government agent in California.

Re:NYPD once again violates Handschu Agreement..

[cold fjord]

The NYPD exhibiting "Bad Faith"?
Why am I not surprised?

Let me guess, you comments were in "good faith", ignoring these sections of the article?

The operation was mounted in 2003 after the Police Department, invoking the fresh horrors of the World Trade Center attack and the prospect of future terrorism, won greater authority from a federal judge to investigate political organizations for criminal activity.....

"All our activities were legal and were subject in advance to Handschu review," Mr. Browne said. ...

In February 2003, the Police Department, with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's support, was given broad new authority by Judge Haight to conduct such monitoring. However, a senior police official must still determine that there is some indication of illegal activity before an inquiry is begun.

Re:NYPD once again violates Handschu Agreement..

[mikelieman]

How is it subject to the Handschu Agreement if it's not being reviewed as PER the Handschu Agreement. *A* Single Police Official is NOT the 3 person review board, is it?

And how is a court settlement modified without the agreement of the original parties?