New York, NY – Cops recently started using a new black-and-yellow tape marked, “CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS” to keep gawkers from tramping over crucial evidence.
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The tape – which is a bit different from the famous tape that blares, “POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS” – is meant to ward off curious onlookers, mostly other cops who show up at the scene of high-profile crimes even if they have no reason to be there.
“Too many guys want to show up just to be seen,” a Brooklyn supervisor said.
The NYPD has been roping off the outer perimeter of crime scenes with tape that still says, “POLICE LINE” – but now, it’s blue and white.
That tape keeps passersby at bay, sometimes a block away from the actual crime scene. At a few scenes in recent weeks, a Daily News reporter watched pedestrians walk past the blue-and-white tape, apparently not used to the new color scheme.
One cop was heard grousing at one scene that the blue-and-white tape still hasn’t registered with New Yorkers.
A recent department memo warned that only VIPs can walk past the new “CRIME SCENE” tape – the NYPD’s equivalent of a velvet rope.
“Only authorized personnel, who are properly trained and equipped, are actively involved in the investigation of the incident, and whose presence is absolutely required, will be permitted to enter the crime scene perimeter,” the memo says.
The crime scene unit has come under fire in recent years for several botched cases, including initially overlooking ballistic evidence in the Sean Bell case.
The problems led to a major shakeup, with Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly bringing in now-Chief of Detectives Phil Pulaski to overhaul procedures in the forensics division.
Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne, the NYPD’s spokesman, said there was no particular incident that had prompted a change in the tapes.
I would like to get some yellow tape “CLEANED FOR PESACH–DO NOT CROSS”
Shuls should use this tape to keep people out of the kiddushes before the Rabbi appears.
how about “all wannabe hatzolah hockers and aspiring askonim who think they are above the law please keep out” tape?
Does Bloomberg realize that the blue ink cost more than the back and white. We are in a recession but somehow he finds to spend money whenever he feels like it.
So now every shumrum with a cherry light needs to stand a block away? How unfortunate!
They should teach the kids in school when ever they see Hatzoloh transporting a patient they should NOT stay around the ambulance area..a) it hampers with the volunteers work b)patient feels terrible bad when onlookers keep staring on him.
Hatzoloh does NOT have any tape to block the scene but the rebbes and teachers in school CAN be the tape teaching them rspect manners for others…
Why do they think this will help? Most people look at the tape as an invitation to go over & check things out.
Yes indeed our tax dollars paid for this garbadge, and yes it is the idea of YOUR MAYOR which I didn’t vote for.
Just watch and what else he has in mind for the next 4 years…………….