NYPD Admits 2 Detectives Used Department Equipment To Alter Wikipedia Articles
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD has identified two police detectives who were using department computers to edit Wikipedia pages.
Commissioner Bill Bratton admitted, yes, two members of the NYPD used department equipment to go on Wikipedia to modify entries to make them less critical of department personnel, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.
"We are in the process of reviewing our social media policies as to giving additional guidance to our personnel as the number of devices is expanding rapidly as to what you could use them for," said Bratton.
Last week, the publication Capital New York reported that computers operating on the NYPD's network at One Police Plaza headquarters had been used to alter Wikipedia pages containing details of controversial cases involving Eric Garner, Sean Bell and Amadou Diallo.
The publication claimed it traced the edits to NYPD computers through a series of IP addresses registered to police headquarters.
The commissioner said there is no policy specific to Wikipedia, and that he doesn't expect the two detectives to be punished.
But Mayor Bill de Blasio jumped in to add "This is well known city policy that people are not supposed to do personal activities on city computers or other city equipment during city work time."
The mayor said the edits were not authorized.