NYPD Misidentifies Judge in Controversial Post, Sparks Criticism

The NYPD's aggressive social media strategy comes under fire after wrongly accusing a judge of releasing a repeat offender, raising concerns about judicial safety and accountability.

NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell faced criticism for misidentifying Judge J. Machelle Sweeting in a social media post, wrongly accusing her of releasing a repeat offender.
The NYPD admitted to the mistake but did not remove the controversial post, maintaining their stance on holding judges accountable.
The actual judge, Michele Davila, released the offender, Rudell Faulkner, on his own recognizance, considering his consistent court appearance record.
The NYPD's aggressive social media strategy has drawn criticism from legal experts and officials, raising concerns about the safety and independence of judges.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed understanding of the NYPD's frustration but suggested the situation could have been handled better.