Reports that cops from New York City's Hate Crimes Unit were sent to see Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" to learn if it inspires hatred have a top Catholic civil rights leader demanding answers from NYPD officials as to what and who was behind the screwball assignment.
According to the New York Post, Hate Crimes Unit supervisor Inspector Dennis Blackman ordered the 20 detectives under his command to see the film after it opened last week.
A source told the Post that cops feared that someone who already held strong anti-Jewish views or was a religious zealot could be pushed over the edge by watching the film.
However, the same sources reported that there had not been any increase in anti-Semitic crimes since the movie opened Wednesday.
The Post quoted one detective who had viewed the film as saying, "It was beneficial to understand what all the hype was about."
After the Post raised questions about the official assignment of police officers to watch the movie while on duty, the NYPD asked the cops to see it on their own time, voluntarily, and not because they were ordered to attend screenings.
The story raised the hackles of Dr. William Donohue, president of the Catholic League.
In a blistering letter Donohue told NYPD Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly he wanted to know what provoked the ill-advised monitoring of a film by NYPD detectives.
Wrote Donohue, "There is a story in the March 2 edition of the New York Post claiming that Hate Crimes Unit supervisor Dennis Blackman ordered 20 detectives to see 'The Passion of the Christ' when it opened last week; some watched the movie during working hours.
"Accordingly, I would like to know the answer to the following questions:
a) Is it common practice for detectives of the NYPD to watch movies during working hours?
b) What prompted the request?
c) What criteria are used to assess whether this is a useful function for the police to provide?
d) What is the purpose of such an exercise?
e) What exactly would the police be empowered to do if they determined the film constituted hate speech?"
It should be noted that in New York City it is also now a minor crime for a business to harbor contraband ashtrays in their establishments.
City snoops routinely swoop down in Gestapo-like lightning raids in an effort to seek out and confiscate dangerous ashtrays and fine their owners.
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