New Bronx police station designed by Bjarke Ingels aims to improve police and community relations

2018-07-13T15:54:00-04:00

Ground has finally broken for a police station in the South Bronx that will provide a new home for NYPD's 40th Precinct. Expected to open in 2021, the precinct will be leaving its current space, a three-story, 1920s Renaissance Revival building, for a shiny, 68-million-dollar new one, designed by none other than Bjarke Ingels.

“We were working in a century-old building that was designed for century-old policing methods. Now we’re changing that with a modern facility made for modern, neighborhood policing" said NYPD Commissioner James O'Neil.

Bronx is one of the city's poorest districts, as well as its most crime-ridden. And newly released data shows it to be increasing; the murder rate nearly doubled in the first half of 2018. Officials hope the new facility could help change that, with a community oriented design believed to foster transparency and communication between the police and local residents.

From the outside, the building is shaped like a stack of bricks. Meant to refer...

NYPD admits to using "Stringrays," military tech that sweeps up cell data

2016-02-11T19:20:00-05:00

The NYPD has used cell-site simulators, commonly known as Stingrays, more than 1,000 times since 2008, according to documents turned over to the [NYCLU]. The documents represent the first time the department has acknowledged using the devices. The NYPD also disclosed that it does not get a warrant before using a Stingray, which sweeps up massive amounts of data. Instead, the police obtain a “pen register order” from a court... [which] do not require the police to establish probable cause...

Stingrays operate by imitating cell phone towers, sweeping up massive amounts of user data without their knowledge or permission. They force cell phones to connect to them and then track the user's location. Originally a military technology, they have been increasingly bought and used by local and state police forces, despite concerns that they violate fundamental rights to privacy.

Broadly speaking, police forces have been reticent to disclose if they possess or employ Stingrays, and have fought efforts to regulate their use.

For more information on surveillance in the modern city, check out these links:

Archinect - News

New Bronx police station designed by Bjarke Ingels aims to improve police and community relations

NYPD admits to using "Stringrays," military tech that sweeps up cell data