New Development in long-standing Handschu case
The New York City Police Department has quietly dropped the 2004 policy that allowed officers to engage in political surveillance by routinely videotaping and photographing New Yorkers engaged in lawful protest. Interim Order 47 was replaced by Interim Order 22 which restores police Patrol Guide procedures to the framework which existed pre-2004 and limits police videotaping to actual or imminent occurrence of illegal activity.
The attorneys in the Handschu case learned of these changes in the course of discovery in a November 2005 motion that challenged Interim Order 47 because it conflicted with the Handschu Guidelines. Upon inquiry, the city’s attorney revealed that Interim Order 47 was withdrawn more than a year ago and replaced by Interim Order 22.
Attorneys Paul Chevigny, Jed Eisenstein, Marty Stolar, Franklin Siegel and Art Eisenstein are filing papers with Judge Charles Haight of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York asking the court to conclude pending proceedings and order the police to notify the Handschu class, and the court, of future changes to Interim Order 22 so that compliance with the Handschu Guidelines can be monitored and assured.
To read the entire attorney statement click here
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