This is one in a series of articles highlighting Breaking Gov’s best stories of the past year. As we reflected on our 2011 coverage of innovation, technology and management amongst the federal agencies and workforce, this was among the stories that stood out as delivering key insight into the top issues facing today’s government community.
When it comes to proactive law enforcement, intelligence and counterterrorism operations, the New York City Police Department is viewed by many of its counterparts as among the most innovative and successful police departments in the nation’s history.
But it has also gained a darker reputation in recent years for what many regard as its unprecedented overreach. Dan Verton brings to light a disturbing, yet revealing portrait of the tensions that exist between the NYPD, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security; and why various experts, along with civil liberty groups, believe NYPD has “become a defacto federal agency without oversight.” His story is strengthened by having interviewed some of the top counterterrorism executives in federal government and an intelligently crafted supporting video sidebar.
This is a powerful investigative piece that gave Breaking Gov sudden attention on Capitol Hill, as well as at NYPD headquarters in New York.