NYPD's Twitter public relations campaign turns into spotlight on police brutality

The New York City Police Department's attempt to highlight community involvement via Twitter gave way to a public reminder of longtime allegations concerning the department's abuse of power, the Daily Dot reported.

The public relations debacle began when the department asked Twitter users to post pictures of themselves with officers using the tag #myNYPD:

Do you have a photo w/ a member of the NYPD? Tweet us & tag it #myNYPD. It may be featured on our Facebook. pic.twitter.com/mE2c3oSmm6

While some people did have pleasant photos of themselves to share, many others -- including members of the Occupy Wall Street movement and communities of color -- documented police encounters that weren't nearly as pleasant:

. @NYPDnews. #MyNYPD handcuffs little terrorists to keep us safe... pic.twitter.com/Pudgr1drBm

— New Word Order (@NWO_NOW) April 23, 2014

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 22, 2014

Sometimes the jokes write themselves. #S17 #myNYPD pic.twitter.com/Wrp6RGpByZ

— Pancake Witch (@TheRealKeori) April 22, 2014

NYPD crushing a man's neck for waving an American flag in a "non-flag waving area." #myNYPD pic.twitter.com/1Zvl2mGMii

— Scizyr Saj'Xanin (@Scizyr) April 22, 2014

#myNYPD pic.twitter.com/xlWkhrHZ9k

— Rami (@RamiSafadi93) April 22, 2014

One officer showed up in several photos connected to the tag:

@NYPDnews #myNYPD pic.twitter.com/aA7aQD1wYT

— Jeff Smith (@Jeff5mith) April 22, 2014

Do you have a photo w/ a member of the #NYPD? Tweet us & tag it #myNYPD. It may be featured on their Facebook! pic.twitter.com/Ps7rThxgNw

— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallStNYC) April 22, 2014

The tag was also used to highlight protests against police behavior:

"NYPD who are you really protecting?" Stop & Frisk has got to go! #MyNYPD pic.twitter.com/p6SHyYwO6J

— Lauren Chief Elk (@ChiefElk) April 22, 2014

Update, 8:52 p.m. EST: The Wall Street Journal reported -- on Twitter, naturally -- that the department issued a short statement in response to the tag:

NYPD issues a statement regarding #myNYPD initiative. pic.twitter.com/FNev3yisXd

— Pervaiz Shallwani (@Pervaizistan) April 22, 2014

However, as of Tuesday night, the department had not addressed #myNYPD on its official Twitter account.