• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • Improve your pistol-handling skills
      What you need to know about automatic license plate readers
      Do cops need more training?
      Why every agency needs a polygraph examiner
      Seeking the right kind of help
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • San Diego County Sheriff’s Department unveils new night-flying...
        Security guard and former police chief killed in New Hampshire...
        San Diego County Sheriff’s Department unveils new night-flying...
        Toddler fires mom’s gun inside Ohio Walmart store
        Heroic K-9 unit honored at National Dog Show for role in capturing...
    • Labor
      • LAPD union files lawsuit against city over delayed pay raises
        “You can’t play politics with public safety”
        “It’s going to be extremely painful for New Yorkers”
        California Highway Patrol officers set to receive significant salary...
        Seattle City Council approves new agreement with police union
    • Tech
      • NYPD explores cutting-edge drone detection vehicle to enhance city...
        The use of military assets by U.S. police
        What you need to know about automatic license plate readers
        Why every agency needs a polygraph examiner
        North Carolina schools, businesses to beef up active shooter security...
    • Training
      • Ballistic shields in patrol operations
        Four things you need to know to control escalation
        Series of fires in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s mobile shooting...
        Using learning factors to influence your performance
        Lancaster Police Department introduces agility course in recruitment...
    • Policy
      • “No child should be unsafe in their own city”
        Federal court rules Pennsylvania township’s ban on thin blue line...
        Texas House passes controversial immigration bill
        Supreme Court rejects Derek Chauvin’s appeal in George Floyd killing
        Ohio lawmaker proposes legislation to allocate marijuana sales tax...
    • Health/Wellness
      • Harnessing our strength: Post-traumatic growth
        Scientifically proven ways for cops to thrive
        The depression–anger cycle
        What does it mean to be a sheepdog?
        Depression screening
    • Community
      • Off-duty first responders save friend’s life after he experiences...
        New Jersey departments unite for No Shave November
        The nobility of serving
        “The smile is a universal language”
        THC-infused candy incident raises safety concerns in California city
    • Offbeat
      • Bizarre police chase ends with suspect trapped in porta potty
        Jewelry store heist ends in high-speed chase and mystifying response...
        Massachusetts community steps in to protect black bear “Pumpkin”...
        Florida moms call cops on school librarians for distributing...
        Authorities seize whopping $8.5 million worth of psychedelic...
    • We Remember
      • Charlotte bridge dedicated to first female casualty in...
        Birmingham community mourns passing of its first Black police...
        “For those who suffered in silence and were lost”
        “You’re my hero”
        Manhattan Beach police officer and Las Vegas shooting survivor...
  • On the Job
    • San Diego County Sheriff’s Department unveils new night-flying...
      Security guard and former police chief killed in New Hampshire...
      San Diego County Sheriff’s Department unveils new night-flying...
      Toddler fires mom’s gun inside Ohio Walmart store
      Heroic K-9 unit honored at National Dog Show for role in capturing...
  • Labor
    • LAPD union files lawsuit against city over delayed pay raises
      “You can’t play politics with public safety”
      “It’s going to be extremely painful for New Yorkers”
      California Highway Patrol officers set to receive significant salary...
      Seattle City Council approves new agreement with police union
  • Tech
    • NYPD explores cutting-edge drone detection vehicle to enhance city...
      The use of military assets by U.S. police
      What you need to know about automatic license plate readers
      Why every agency needs a polygraph examiner
      North Carolina schools, businesses to beef up active shooter security...
  • Training
    • Ballistic shields in patrol operations
      Four things you need to know to control escalation
      Series of fires in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s mobile shooting...
      Using learning factors to influence your performance
      Lancaster Police Department introduces agility course in recruitment...
  • Policy
    • “No child should be unsafe in their own city”
      Federal court rules Pennsylvania township’s ban on thin blue line...
      Texas House passes controversial immigration bill
      Supreme Court rejects Derek Chauvin’s appeal in George Floyd killing
      Ohio lawmaker proposes legislation to allocate marijuana sales tax...
  • Health/Wellness
    • Harnessing our strength: Post-traumatic growth
      Scientifically proven ways for cops to thrive
      The depression–anger cycle
      What does it mean to be a sheepdog?
      Depression screening
  • Community
    • Off-duty first responders save friend’s life after he experiences...
      New Jersey departments unite for No Shave November
      The nobility of serving
      “The smile is a universal language”
      THC-infused candy incident raises safety concerns in California city
  • Offbeat
    • Bizarre police chase ends with suspect trapped in porta potty
      Jewelry store heist ends in high-speed chase and mystifying response...
      Massachusetts community steps in to protect black bear “Pumpkin”...
      Florida moms call cops on school librarians for distributing...
      Authorities seize whopping $8.5 million worth of psychedelic...
  • We Remember
    • Charlotte bridge dedicated to first female casualty in...
      Birmingham community mourns passing of its first Black police...
      “For those who suffered in silence and were lost”
      “You’re my hero”
      Manhattan Beach police officer and Las Vegas shooting survivor...
  • Between the Lines
    • Debunking the perpetual narrative of racial bias in policing
      The unspoken truth behind the recruitment and retention crisis
      The police reform goal: use of force without options
      The imprisonment of law enforcement technology
      Persecution of the LEO is classic schadenfreude
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

Policy

NYPD directive aims to prevent cops from using personal phones on the job

APB Team Published December 14, 2022 @ 3:00 pm PST

D Ramey Logan via Wikimedia Commons

The NYPD plans to stop cops from texting or calling from their personal phones while on duty by forcing all rank-and-file officers to attach identifying “NYPD” stickers to their work phones.

The directive was added to the NYPD’s patrol guide and sent to cops via a “finest message” the day before Thanksgiving.

“Upon receipt, all members of the service are required to affix an ‘NYPD phone sticker’ to the outside of their department-issued cell phone case so that it’s clearly visible,” the order read.

The decal stickers are the latest approach to stop officers from using their personal phones on the job.

Mayor Eric Adams had previously urged the public to take photos of cops talking on their phones on subways and send them to the department.

“You walk downstairs, you see five transit officers standing at the booth looking at their phones,” a former transit cop complained in April. “If you see it, send me a picture. Let me know. Because I’ll go to that district the next day and see exactly what’s happening.”

The directive was largely met with scorn by NYPD officers.

“It’s nonsense. It’s basically to keep you off your own phone,” one officer said. “If the boss sees you, he wants to see that you’re only using the job phone. It’s all horses–t.” 

One veteran officer with more than 25 years on the job said he knew what to do when his supervisor distributed the stickers emblazoned with the NYPD shield.

“I threw it in the garbage,” the officer said.

“It’s very intrusive,” he added. “What is this, kindergarten? People are pissed off. I mean, what are we doing here? Are we children? We’re grown men and women.”

Apparently, the stickers themselves didn’t really stick.

“The stickers don’t even stick, anyway. Somebody who had it on their phone for a week and a half said it already fell off,” the cop said.

“Does it do anything special? Glow in the dark, display the bat signal?” another Bronx officer joked about the sticker.

He continued: “So it’s just a sticker? Who’s bright idea was this? How much did it cost the city? If I lose it, will it be considered losing departmental property? Will I get disciplined or transferred if my sticker isn’t visible to the public?”

The officer from Brooklyn said that directives like this were the kinds of things turning young people away from the job.

“Inspections will write you up for being on your personal phone unless you have a legitimate reason, like ‘Hey listen, my wife’s sick’ or this or that. I think it’s childish. It’s ridiculous, but it’s the NYPD. They’re hammering these kids on every little thing.”

Back in April, Governor Kathy Hochul responded to the mayor’s comments regarding the use of personal phones.

“I’ve got different approaches to public safety,” she said. “I have confidence in the NYPD to do their jobs, as well as the MTA police officers. I’m grateful for what they do. People need a sense of security. There are multiple ways to accomplish that.”

Hochul went on to say that funding for more resources and security in the subway system was a better approach than disciplining officers for using their personal phones.

Categories: Policy Tags: Brooklyn, personal phones, sticker, directive, work phones, angry, NYPD, Kathy Hochul, Eric Adams, subway

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Bill Alexander Named CEO of National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
  • Charlotte bridge dedicated to first female casualty in Charlotte-Mecklenburg P.D. history
  • Bizarre police chase ends with suspect trapped in porta potty
  • “No child should be unsafe in their own city”
  • San Diego County Sheriff’s Department unveils new night-flying firefighting helicopter
  • Security guard and former police chief killed in New Hampshire Hospital shooting
  • San Diego County Sheriff’s Department unveils new night-flying firefighting helicopter
  • Toddler fires mom’s gun inside Ohio Walmart store
  • Federal court rules Pennsylvania township’s ban on thin blue line flag unconstitutional
  • LAPD union files lawsuit against city over delayed pay raises

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

Improve your pistol-handling skills

Improve your pistol-handling skills

October 21, 2023

What you need to know about automatic license plate readers

What you need to know about automatic license plate readers

October 20, 2023

Do cops need <em>more</em> training?

Do cops need more training?

October 17, 2023

Why every agency needs a polygraph examiner

Why every agency needs a polygraph examiner

October 16, 2023

Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Options | Notice at Collection | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.