After yesterday’s post about terrorist-spotting, I didn’t think I’d read anything more surreal about the NYPD’s training. Then I read a front-page article by Ellen Byron in today’s Wall Street Journal that the force is bringing groups of newly promoted officers to the Frick to examine paintings in order to improve their observational and analytical skills.
Although the course began last year, presumably it will be useful for spotting terror suspects on public transportation, a keen concern of cops these days. Specifically, it seems to be aiding the NYPD in its profiling efforts of suspicious-looking Middle Eastern men1.
Standing in front of El Greco’s “The Purification of the Temple,” David Grossi, an NYPD captain, recognized Jesus as the painting’s central figure, characterized the scene as chaotic and explained the work’s use of light and color.
“The gang unit would probably be called in,” he continued. “It appears there’s grand larceny here, felony assault there, and Jesus would probably be charged with inciting a riot.” Counting 17 people in the scene, he added: “Good thing there are plenty of witnesses.”
1 Although Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday that the massive, heavily armed police response to reports of five Middle Eastern men with backpacks aboard a NYC tour bus on Sunday was the fault of the bus company’s report, not the NYPD. The men didn’t have backpacks and were Sikhs from Britain on vacation. Nonetheless, Bloomie encouraged the public to continue reporting “suspicious activity.” [back]