Fights between journalists and the powerful are so commonplace they’re rarely worth remarking upon — there are always going to be stories officials don’t want us reporting, and we’ll try our best to do them anyway.
But it’s worth informing Post readers about what’s happening at the NYPD, which under Commissioner Edward Caban has become hostile to any transparency.
First, the police department banished reporters to a trailer outside of NYPD headquarters. Less chance pesky journalists covered anything other than the “official” narrative.
All inquiries, they decreed, must come in writing and go to one press office — questions they’ve been regularly ignoring.
Then, on Thursday, the bureau chiefs of both The Post and The New York Times were banished from the trailer. The sin of our reporter, Tina Moore? She reached out to the Police Benevolent Association about doing a feature related to the upcoming anniversary of 9/11.
After The Post complained, Moore was allowed to return, but given a lecture on what she did “wrong” — that is, try to speak to anyone on the force without the NYPD’s permission.
That’s a ridiculous rule on its face, but even more so when it comes to the PBA. That’s a union that the NYPD does not control. If the PBA wants to cooperate, it is up to them.
Of course, the increasingly authoritarian press office of the NYPD does not see it this way. They do not consider themselves taxpayer-funded servants of the people of Gotham, they are thin-skinned propagandists who spend their days lashing out at reporters on X.
Regular readers know that the police officers of this city have no better friend than The Post. We admire the sacrifices they make, and we regularly fight the inanities of Albany that coddle criminals, make the city less safe and put their lives at risk.
It is not them we are criticizing. It’s the small number of brass who have decided that a free press is the enemy.
And you know who usually thinks that? The people that have something to hide.
It’s no coincidence that one of our dedicated police reporters was removed on the day that Caban’s home was raided by the feds, and it emerged that his twin brother is under investigation for peddling favors.
We will continue to report that story, and report fairly on the NYPD in general. But the commissioner and his minions have already shown The Post, and the people of New York, what kind of man he is.