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By: Hal C Clarke
In 2021, City College of New York (CCNY) acquired 62 body cameras, along with accessories and software, as part of a pilot program aimed at enhancing transparency between campus security and the public. This move came in response to a surge in criminal incidents around the Harlem campus during the height of the pandemic.
However, it appears that the deployment of these cameras has been postponed, allegedly to prevent the exposure of campus crime and misconduct to the public eye.
CCNY insiders have voiced concerns that the university administration may have chosen to keep the body cameras unused to shield students’ parents and the general public from witnessing violent incidents or unruly behavior on campus, the NY Post discovered .
One long-serving CCNY officer disclosed, “A big part of why they don’t want us to have body cameras is it’ll show what’s really happening on the campuses. You’ll see some of the interactions we have, where faculty, staff, even students may be completely in the wrong, and they don’t want that behavior leaked on the news.”
The initial purpose of these body cameras was to provide an objective and real-time record of encounters, enabling review by supervisors, fostering accountability, and encouraging lawful and respectful interactions between the public and the Public Safety department. A draft proposal for the program highlighted these objectives, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in campus security.
After submitting the proposal to the City University of New York’s (CUNY) central office for review, the program faced a setback when Andre Brown, CUNY’s executive director of public safety, halted its implementation. As a result, the body cameras remained untouched in storage for several years, according to CCNY officers.
CCNY, with a sprawling campus in Harlem and a substantial student population of 14,403 in fall 2022, has witnessed an increase in major crimes. Data from the NYPD’s 26th Precinct, which covers the university, revealed a 14% rise in major crimes through October 1st compared to the previous year, and a significant 65% increase compared to the same period two years ago.
In response to inquiries, a spokesperson from City College explained that the delay in deploying the body cameras was due to the university’s lack of awareness regarding the necessary requirements for their use. These requirements encompassed existing policies, protocols, and liability concerns associated with the 2021 purchase. The spokesperson added that they were in the process of developing a plan that would align with NYPD regulations, best practices, and community safety standards. They also hinted at the possibility of revisiting the idea of a pilot program in the future.
CUNY made headlines earlier in the year after a graduate speaking at the City University of New York’s law school commencement called for a “revolution” to take on the legal system’s “white supremacy’’ and ripped the “fascist” NYPD, military and Israel.
Fatima Mousa Mohammed, a Queens native who was selected by the graduating 2023 class to speak during the May 12 ceremony, ranted about fascist police and the state of Israel in a unhinged speech which was the talk on NYC
