Social Media Scrutiny of NYPD Officers

NYPD officers are increasingly facing scrutiny from activists using social media. These agitators film their encounters with police, posting videos that reveal officers’ names and complaint histories to prominent figures in New York.

A recent video from February 1 features a user named Stitch the Camera, who ridicules two police officers at the West 181st Street subway station in Washington Heights, mocking, “I know there’s no life from here.”

He goes on to insult the officers, saying, “No one loves you because you’re all assholes… Scumbags, that’s right. You’re just assholes. Dirty rats.”

The footage reveals each officer’s name and details on any complaints or legal issues they may have faced. Other videos show him confronting officers in various settings, including their patrol cars, while hurling profanities and insults.

In a different video from December 10, he harshly declares, “I hope I burn out here. You should have burned in hell a long time ago.” At times, he claims that officers can speak freely since they’re protected by the First Amendment.

“If you arrest me, you have to listen to the judge, mom,” he warned another officer in a December 21 video, implying he would pursue legal action if detained.

While many similar videos have surfaced before, the tactic of disclosing officers’ personal information appears to be a new strategy used by anti-ICE activists nationwide. A project called ICE List, which emerged in June 2025, has identified hundreds of federal immigration officials, sharing their personal information such as contact numbers and license plates. As of last month, over 4,500 names were included.

While some video posters justify their actions as First Amendment exercises, others express concern over the behavior.

A law enforcement source remarked, “I don’t believe the First Amendment gives police officers the right to harass or prevent them from doing their jobs.” He added that if presented to a rational person, these actions wouldn’t be considered acceptable.

Some videos, it was noted, even included advertisements, suggesting that users might be profiting from this behavior.

Another user, “iamgodny,” has also employed similar strategies to ridicule officers, even sharing close-up footage and complaint records in his posts.

Officials in law enforcement suggest that this rising disrespect stems from a broader shift in societal attitudes toward policing.

A police officer with over 20 years of experience described the videos as “absolutely disgusting.” He noted, “The department does not want you to take any action. They just randomly approach you. Who should be exposed to that?”

The Detective Endowment Association is advocating for legislation that would establish a required distance of at least 8 meters between the public and officers on duty, mirroring existing laws in Florida. This legislation would also prevent the publication of officers’ addresses.

Scott Munro, president of the union, emphasized, “Florida’s halo law makes it clear that they stand with the police, not the harassers. If we want to stop losing detectives and police officers to states that value the men and women in blue, it’s time for New York State to do the same.”