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NYPD Press Secretary Good at His Job (Pissing Off the Press)
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 22, 2010
Modified Sep 22, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 22, 2010
Modified Sep 22, 2010
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Meet Paul Browne, the former reporter (and potential spy recruit) who gets paid almost $200K a year to keep citizens in the dark about the NYPD. In his fervent attempt to stop leaks to the press, Browne has allegedly pored through cell phone records of detectives in search of reporters' phone numbers, transferring those who've talked "to shit jobs." This fascinating Observer profile describes him as "the most senior aide to the most powerful police commissioner in the history of the Police Department."
It's gotten to the point where some crime reporters use prepaid cell phones to call their police department sources. When asked whether he's good at his job, one crime reporter says, "I guess it depends. If you're the police commissioner and you can't stand any negative stories, then I guess he's good at his job. If you're the public and you want to know exactly how the Police Department is reacting to crime, then he's bad at his job."
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paul browne
press
shit jobs
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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