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In an effort to improve New York City’s quality of life, the police union is encouraging officers to take photos of homeless people when they are off duty.
The photos are being posted on Flickr as part of the Sergeants Benevolent Association’s “Peek-A-Boo” project.
PIX11 obtained a memo about the project, in which SBA President Ed Mullins encourages law enforcement officials to "photograph the homeless lying in our streets, aggressive panhandlers, people urinating in public or engaging in open-air drug activity, and quality of life offenses of every type."
According to PIX11, SBA represents approximately 12,000 active and retired sergeants.
In addition to posting the images online, Mullins wrote, “We will refer issues to the proper agencies, and we will help create accountability equally across the board.”
The public reaction to the project appears to be overwhelmingly negative, according to the comments left on PIX11's Facebook page and the New York Post's Facebook page. Readers question what good taking the photos will do, and if the homeless people being photographed will get the help they need. Some people felt the project was mocking the homeless, many who are mentally ill.
To view the whole album, visit Peek-A-Boo on the Sergeants Benevolent Association's Flickr page. (Some images contain nudity, viewer discretion advised.)
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