(ACC-2018-014) New York Police Department Intelligence Unit records ("Handschu, part 2"), circa 1960-2013, bulk: 1970-2005
Scope and Contents
These boxes contain records relating to New York Police Department (NYPD) surveillance of social/political movements, organizations, and private citizens dating from about 1960 through about 2015. Earlier records contain information on organizations such as Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (FALN), Black Liberation Army (BLA), Jewish Defense League, Black Panther Party, Students for a Democratic Society, the Ku Klux Klan, and more. Many of the later records document the surveillance of Muslim individuals and communities in New York City, mosques and other places of worship, and business and organizations owned or operated by Muslim individuals. Other records concern surveillance of and NYPD preparation for significant events like the Republican National Convention (2004), Democratic National Convention (2004), the Presidential inauguration of George W. Bush, and the Million Youth March. There are also documents related to court cases concerning NYPD surveillance of private citizens and social/political organizations, including Raza v. City of New York (2013), the Matter of Fernandez v. The New York Police Department (2014), Handschu v. Special Services Division (1985), as well as the NYPD's role in the investigation, arrest, and federal criminal trial of Ahmad Wais Afzali.
Many of the records consist of narrative reports from numbered operators conducting surveillance (operator's reports) and investigative statements reporting information from confidential informants and/or operators (these include reporting unit and officer, case number and complaint number, and confidential informant number) that were created during investigations. Photographic materials documenting protests and other events were also created during investigations. The rest of the records mostly consist of information that supported these investigations, including expense, financial, and telephone reports, subject files, manuals, and organizational procedures. A significant portion of the 'subject files' (also called card files) were about individuals and organizations of interest to the NYPD, including mugshots with attached bios that identify subjects of interest. There are also administrative documents about complying with the Handschu Agreement and the surveillance documents that were produced to comply with Handschu Agreement related requests.
Many of the records consist of narrative reports from numbered operators conducting surveillance (operator's reports) and investigative statements reporting information from confidential informants and/or operators (these include reporting unit and officer, case number and complaint number, and confidential informant number) that were created during investigations. Photographic materials documenting protests and other events were also created during investigations. The rest of the records mostly consist of information that supported these investigations, including expense, financial, and telephone reports, subject files, manuals, and organizational procedures. A significant portion of the 'subject files' (also called card files) were about individuals and organizations of interest to the NYPD, including mugshots with attached bios that identify subjects of interest. There are also administrative documents about complying with the Handschu Agreement and the surveillance documents that were produced to comply with Handschu Agreement related requests.
Extent
152 cubic feet (152 record center cartons)
Dates
circa 1960-2013, bulk 1970-2005
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research. Some records in this collection may be restricted due to content or format. The reproduction of records is not permitted without permission of the Municipal Archives due to the inclusion of personally identifiable information (PII) and other restricted information throughout this collection.
In Subgroup 2, there are significant privacy concerns, in particular for the people being surveilled. Many of the subject file cards include or correspond to a picture, full name, date of birth, arrest history, political/organizational affiliation, address, citizenship status, DMV records, or other personally identifiable information (PII) of an individual (many of the photographs include this information as well). Similarly, there are details about informants in various places. There are also privacy concerns for the officers whose actions are documented as well, because the records can include full names associated with shield numbers, medical information, and fingerprints. Some records have not met legal retention periods and are restricted. Some media formats need specialized playback equipment to access (VHS and floppy disks in particular).
The Municipal Archives can provide redacted (PII) records for reproduction requests. Please contact us for more information or to make a research appointment.
In Subgroup 2, there are significant privacy concerns, in particular for the people being surveilled. Many of the subject file cards include or correspond to a picture, full name, date of birth, arrest history, political/organizational affiliation, address, citizenship status, DMV records, or other personally identifiable information (PII) of an individual (many of the photographs include this information as well). Similarly, there are details about informants in various places. There are also privacy concerns for the officers whose actions are documented as well, because the records can include full names associated with shield numbers, medical information, and fingerprints. Some records have not met legal retention periods and are restricted. Some media formats need specialized playback equipment to access (VHS and floppy disks in particular).
The Municipal Archives can provide redacted (PII) records for reproduction requests. Please contact us for more information or to make a research appointment.
Additional Description
Arrangement
The records in this subgroup have not been processed. The arrangement of the records remain exactly as they were received by the New York City Municipal Archives. Although no overarching scheme of arrangement of the records was identified, there are several distinct file types that are possibly distinct records series, many of which are arranged by subject and/or date. These file types include: approved investigation statements (all appear to be numbered, many in sequential order); "subject file" cards; FOIL correspondence (Freedom of Information Law); fiscal reports, transaction reports; a Handschu card file database printout; organizational files; and photographic materials organized by investigation or event being surveilled.