There’s a pro-police rally in New York City at City Hall. (As is their right, *** updated Dec. 18 and as commenter ‘Love It’ points out, is not sponsored by the NYPD but by police supporters.) As a public relations professional, I think it will further hinder relations, making them sound like they’re anti #BlackLivesMatter. I mean, really, what other way can it possibly look?
Why not do something like this, this, or this?
So many examples of showing how you’re “WITH” the people out there, and those are just from recent days. It’s a shame the NYPD doesn’t see that. Talk about missing opportunities to win people over on your side.
I discussed this rally, and how we debate contentious topics such as guns, abortion, or the police, with a colleague and friend today. We both think the ‘you’re either with us or against us,’ attitude individual police (or police-related) friends we both have, is misguided. Especially when so many of us are willing to have nuanced discussions about this topic, that–news flash!—most of the world is now paying close attention to.
It is not every police officer. That should be a given, though, I guess I can’t be surprised it comes off that way when people take things personally. As I’ve said in the past, when Bernie Madoff was arrested, did every banker feel offended at the criticism? When a teacher is arrested for statutory rape, do others go on the offensive? When a doctor is sued for malpractice, does every physician panic that the public at large is watching? Yes, I know, these are not apples to apples comparisons, but my point is it’s bigger than YOU.
And then my friend put it perfectly: “It’s part of a larger culture. Violence is how we get things done [when it comes to ‘others’]. (Ed. words in parenthesis mine.) It’s not education, or empathy, it’s violence. It’s the same reason we can’t open schools in Pakistan, but we can send drones over there.”
Well said.
Scene By Gina 
When Bernie was arrested, was there any death threats to bankers? In any of the other circumstance you mentioned with other professions, were there any group inciting to shoot peers that had NOTHING to do with what happened?
Hi. Thanks for your comment. Actually, there were death threats against bankers after the ’08 financial meltdown! Go figure. But I get your point. And, as I mentioned, I have several friends (from high school & college) who are police officers. Of course police put their lives on the line. But that’s policing, isn’t it? I mean, this is why they are outfitted with guns. How many police are there in this country, and how many are killed in the line of duty because a few knucklehead protesters — as is their right — hold signs that say F the Police? Not many. Police get hurt in the line of duty fighting crime. (See recent Jersey City, NJ, shooting.) Look, protesters can say what they want (first amendment/free speech right), however, I think you would agree that the majority of protestors (especially in NYC this past weekend) did so peacefully. I mean I saw parents and their children. The one idiot who was arrested [QUICKLY] for throwing a trash can at a police officer sounded like a douchebag agitator who is probably well on his way to losing his job. I still stick by my advice: not sure the pro-police rally helps optics in this case. And if you don’t care what an entire police department, or profession, looks like, I guess you can’t be surprised when people shake their heads, you know?
There’s a pro-police rally in New York City at City Hall. (As is their right.) As a public relations professional, I think it will further hinder relations, making them sound like they’re anti #BlackLivesMatter. I mean, really, what other way can it possibly look? Quickly followed by this paragraph.
So many examples of showing how you’re “WITH” the people out there, and those are just from recent days. It’s a shame the NYPD doesn’t see that. Talk about missing opportunities to win people over on your side.
Simply looking into who is sponsoring this rally would reveal the NYPD is neither sponsoring nor endorsing it! As a public relations professional, surely you know this! I know, I know you never said the NYPD is sponsoring or endorsing the rally did you. You possibly forgot, its understandable.
Hi! THanks for your comment. I didn’t look up who is sponsoring, but it doesn’t matter much, does it? Are police and their supporters going to show? Probably. Your average Joe isn’t going to look for sponsorship. But hey, let’s just hope no one shows up wearing a “Breathe Easy” t-shirt that a tone-deaf Indiana cop is selling.
It doesn’t matter much does it? This is your response? Amazing. And your remark about the breathe easy shirt sums you up to tee (no pun intended). I won’t mention some of the signs I’ve seen, but if you’d like to go tit for tat et me know. But it doesn’t really matter much.
Tit for tat is boring! 🙂 I’m saying that in the eyes of your average joe, they are not going to ask / care about a sponsor. For instance, at my organization — a Catholic university – if we were to have a concert on campus called “Hate death metal at XYZ school” sponsored by some hate group (just as an example), people would still say it was us, and rightfully so, as it had our name in it. That’s the kind of thing you think about in public/media relations… the optics. Besides, I gave plenty of examples of police departments putting out the NICE things they did. We need to see more of that from the NYPD. The Breathe Easy shirt news broke this week. Why is it wrong of me to bring it up? It’s the same thing: Bad optics. How about showing how community policing helps, rather than hinders?
Are we on the same planet? The news media is so one sided that stories about the good things the cops do are on page 72 or reserved for the 3:34 am spot on T.V. Maybe I’ve missed something in my 50 plus years living in this city, but unless I’m mistaken my ability to roam this city at 2am and be relatively safe is what the NYPD has provided! The fact that violent crime that disproportionally affects neighborhoods I used to live in is at an all time low is the NYPD’s legacy. If you can’t see what the NYPD has done to make this city what it is today and feel as though handing out some toys or turkeys is going to win the city over, I invite you to discuss the 70’s and 80’s on the lower east side. That was my world.
Nope, definitely not on the same planet. If the media is so biased, explain how all of those examples I provided went viral. I’ll wait.
Hey forgot to mention thanks for the props in your article!
You can say that again Gina we are DEFINITLY not on the same planet. You provide 4 examples of the police handing out gifts and claim the media is not biased, OK. Those stories lasted how long, played over and over how many times? Naturally you choose to ignore my entire point about the NYPD as a whole and the great work they have done to make the City one of the largest safe cities in the U.S. Instead you have chosen to post 4 examples that you feel, if duplicated by the NYPD will put a good warm feeling in the residents of this city. Maybe the murder count that’s been reduced to 291 from an all time high of 2600 will make folks feel a bit more warm and fuzzy. Or the 1200+ shootings that have been reduced from 5000 plus. Nope it’s the gifts that will do it. But hey those are only countless lives saved, DEFINITLY no comparison to a Teddy Bear.
I’m not ignoring that. I used to come to the city in the 90s as a teen and, yes, it’s completely different. Some may say it’s entirely too sanitized, but the Disney-fication of the city is a whole other blog post. As is the topic of crime in the 70s, 80s, 90s, and today. This isn’t about that, is it? And it’s not quite GIFTS either. What, are you trying to make me sound like a liberal who wants hand-outs? Nice try, but no. I simply think the office of public affairs could do some pitching the media on stories of good will, community policing, and so on. Let’s not forget what prompted this all: the fact that multiple black men were killed by police in 2014. The world is watching. You can point at your statistics all you want, but the bottom line is not one police officer has been indicted for these killings. So, what’s left? How people perceive the police. I simply made a suggestion about how to improve that. Look, the other day the Jersey City Fire Department was featured on a national TV show for a toy drive they hold every year. You’re going to tell me that it’s a bad thing? Should they instead just point to how many fires they put out. We definitely are on different planets. In my planet, I appreciate the police, care about how minorities are treated, I care about humanity, and think it would be SWELL if two sides could have meaningful dialogue about the current discord. Good day, Love it!
Stop with your accusations as I am a left leaning centrist. You say the office of public relations can do some good stories…. Uhhhh you just said it in your response, not your article. Don’t preach to me, preach on the blog so all can see! That’s great on your planet you care about minorities, sweetie in my world I investigated and solved over 200 murders of minorities. I devoted every ounce of myself when investigating the Cases I was handed. You want to know how people perceive the police, watch the news they shape perception! Your right multiple black men were killed and the grand juries involved felt there was not enough evidence to take to trial. You want meaningful dialogue with people who assume the police are inherently racist? You want dialogue with people who race bait every opportunity possible and make a living off it? Different planets, different universes!
You lost me at sweetie. That’s not very nice as a left-leaning centrist. It’s sexist. And so is accusing people of ‘race baiting every opportunity possible and making a living off of it.’ As a minority, I’m offended that you generalize. It’s sad. I’m not a person who likes to stereotype, so I won’t make assumptions about you. The news helps shape perception? For some, perhaps. But remember that in this climate of 24/7 news, folks watch the news that reflect their viewpoint. So, don’t worry, people who think certain people “race bait every opportunity possible and make a living on it” can watch certain channels that rehash the same hateful rhetoric. Good day.
Quick question. Are you out there with the NYPD? Do you walk around with the Community Affairs officers out there? Do you partake in the PAL program? Do you walk around and go into the depths of the city with the Homeless Outreach Unit? Do you help Domestic Violence Officers who help victims get away from their abusers? Did you ever comfort an individual who just found out their 10 year old was just blown away with a shotgun because of his 8 ball jacket? You ever have to hold back because you walked into a rape scene and observed an 7 year old girl bleeding profusely from her vagina because her crackhead mother let her drug dealing boyfriend fuck her for a hit of crack? Now I’ll go on if you want, I’ve got hundreds of real life examples to share. Or you can tell me and the rest of NYC they need some cops to pass out some goodies!
Yes, I do volunteer with domestic violence assistance in the emergency room. But, are you saying because I don’t work ‘on the job’ I can’t have an opinion? That’s the problem with anonymous folks like you. You can opine on how people live, but God forbid someone have an opinion on public servants. It’s sad that you are harping on ‘passing out goodies,’ but hey, you have your mind made up. Once again, thanks for visiting/commenting.
Gina when did I ever say you can not have an opinion? I’m asking you not as a wise ass but when did I ever say that? Who is opining on how people live, I’m simply giving my opinion based on the life and job experiences I’ve lived, is it good for you but not good for me? What is really sad is that you associate community harmony with the cops and giving out goodies. It appears as though you, through your very own writings feel that the NYPD’s public image will be saved or somehow associated with your 4 examples. Gina what you have no idea and what I know is that I earned my respect in various communities by being a straight talker, a tough but fair individual and something you will never understand a tough son of a bitch when I had to be. I did not earn it any other way. I don’t have to publicize the countless times I reached in my pocket and helped those I policed, Nor do any of the great guys and girls I worked with!
I never said it would be ‘saved.’ I never ‘preached.’ I said that, in my opinion, it would probably hinder relations and public perception. But we’ll see. It’s tomorrow! And, you’re right, I have NO IDEA. Not surprising since you’re anonymous and I don’t know you. And you’re making an assumption about good PR and goodies. Below I posted a story that has nothing to do with “goodies” (you need a new term! That one is dated, lol) but everything to do with showing a police officer in a caring light. That’s all.
Screw good press. MEANWHILE… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/17/houston-police-homelessness_n_6341520.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067
Let’s make sure its front and center, I’m certain as a PR specialist you can make that happen. 24/7 coverage on good police stories, make it happen. Until then you can worry about “sexists” calling you sweetie.
The HuffPo story I just shared? The others? Done. Shared with my networks on FB, Twitter, LINKEDIN, and so on. I do my duty in sharing POSITIVE police stories all the time! ALL THE TIME. (I don’t do PR for private sector, though, so that’s the extent of my free pr!) And people break out into debates in the comments all the time. And it proves, just like our back & forth here, that people CAN dialogue about this. It’s funny how my police friends never realize that is what we are DOING! And no one was race baiting. Look at that.
Which by the way was not meant that way, so take it how you want.
Never said YOU were race baiting. I said the professional race baiters, sharpton and crew. If you think having this individual so close to the leadership of this city is wise than there is no reason for discussion. If you think its ok for the A.G. To assume police are inherently racist due to pre conditioning there is no reason for discussion. Like you said in one of your responses one can watch certain news channels to rehash things. Funny how it seems to be ok for people to feel slighted, but when the police in general or as a whole feel slighted, we are somehow wrong in our feelings! However that is ok because I’ve been around this before, probably before you were in college, but this time the feeling among cops is like nothing I’ve seen before. And I’ll leave you with this, the world is watching, the country is watching, and the regular cop who seems to be vilified is also watching. And the latter has been speaking in volumes of standing down, as they don’t want to be the next 24/7 face on the news being tried and convicted in the court of public opinion.
Sony just met with Sharpton yesterday. For whatever reason, top level folks love dealing with him. Perhaps because he brings the cameras around. Again, that’s a whole other blog post! Ha!
This is all anyone needs to know about this guy! Maybe one day we can sit down for a cup of coffee and discuss the case my old partner built against him, but was somehow shoved under the rug.
The New York Times recently shocked it’s faithful readers by outing Al Sharpton for the enormous amount of unpaid taxes both he and his nonprofit, National Action Network (NAN) owes to date. Both Josh Earnest and President Obama seemed dumbfounded, more than usual, by the news that their White House civil rights advising buddy owes $4 million and some change. I am guessing owing so much money is no oversight. The staff at NAN is more than capable of interpreting the organization’s 990. Rachel Noerdlinger, known as the “publicist to the stars,” is the Senior Vice President of Communications at NAN. And I am certain juggling NAN and being the Chief of Staff for the wife of New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio, takes a few brain cells. Heck, why didn’t Sharpton’s daughter, Dominque, notice the IRS letters stacking up in the mailbox? She has a degree from Temple, and has increased the number of NAN chapters all over the country. Though, if this is the same daughter that used the National Action Network’s bank account to fund her schooling, she may have wanted to keep her distance from the paperwork. I would continue researching more of Dominique’s involvement, but now knowing her mentor was Bill Cosby, I am sure she is dealing with enough surprises this holiday season.
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the nation with over 70 chapters throughout the United States. NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency, and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender. Did their mission statement stun you? It sure shocked me; I only see Al Sharpton rally for black victims when involving a white assailant. (I guess he has not had a chance to rally for other nationalities as of yet.) What you may find vexing is how Al found the time to dabble in extortion…
Sharpton has engaged in controversial donation policies — specifically the practice of threatening protests and boycotts of corporations while simultaneously soliciting donations and sponsorships from them. According to the New York Post, several major corporations, including Anheuser-Busch and Colgate-Palmolive, have donated thousands of dollars to the National Action Network. The Post asserted that the donations were made to prevent boycotts or rallies by the National Action Network. Sneaky Sharpton could be, quintessentially, the biggest bully of all time! What other big name companies has Sharpton put in a pinch?
Chrysler, according to Sharpton, was racially biased in car loans. Chrysler now financially supports National Action Network.
American Honda, according to Sharpton, did not hire enough African American managers. American Honda now donates a “modest amount” to NAN every year.
Hawkins Food Group sued Burger King alleging being denied franchises based on skin color. He lost his case, but then decided to get Sharpton involved. Somehow, Sharpton was able to convince Burger King executives into writing Hawkins a check for $31 million. Hawkins has since donated over $1 million to NAN.
Sharpton accused Macy’s of racially profiling its costumers in 1998. Macy’s now funds NAN’s annual conference.
The list does not end here, but I am sure you see the trend. Al Sharpton seems to be really good at the old-fashioned shakedown approach. I am no scholar, but I recognize extortion when I see it. I truly hope the IRS investigates the National Action Network along with Al Sharpton through and through. Now that things in Ferguson, MO are cooling off, I hope he is able to sit down and do some much-needed bookkeeping.
1.3K26.
Gina his office in Harlem didn’t burn itself to the ground with all the tax documents in it by accident!