Recently, the NYPD released a bunch of documents related to the heavy-handed tactics they used during the 2004 RNC Convention including the detention of people in a GOP-owned facility at Pier 57. In the massive document dump was this gem (relevant WTF’s highlighted in red, click to embiggen if needed):

Apparently, the NYPD isn’t particularly bright because they actually documented this information as if it were true and, according to the document, they continued to investigate this claim. Now you may wonder why I think this is stupid. Well, it’s really a geographic consideration. The person who “saw” these “Middle-Eastern” men was on the train platform at 85th Street & New Utrecht Avenue. The complainant supposedly saw the men taking photographs of each other while under the Verrazano Bridge on three successive days.

Here’s a map of the area in question (click to embiggen if needed):

See that box with a plus in the middle of it next to the text on the right? That’s where the train station in question is. See the pushpin on the left? That’s the Verrazano Bridge and you can see the multiple roadways snaking up onto it.

So I ask you, my intrepid readers, two questions.

1. How the hell did this guy see these men at that distance (as the crow flies it’s 1.6 miles)?

2. Why is the NYPD “investigating” this as if it’s even plausible?

The simple fact is the NYPD was looking for ammo to investigate people during the RNC Convention. If you hadn’t seen the actual document, all you would’ve heard is that the NYPD was investigating claims that men were seen photographing each other under the Bridge on multiple occasions.

Instead, since we know the truth, we see that claim is dubious at best.

I can’t wait to read more of this “report.”

Technorati Tags: nyclu, rnc, 2004, wtf