"Jimmy Justice" Videos: Vigilante Films Cops Breaking The Law In New York

He calls himself "Jimmy Justice," a self-styled "cop-arazzi," armed only with a video camera as he prowls the streets of New York looking for law enforcement officers who are breaking the law. His targets are illegally parked city government vehicles -- particularly cars of traffic cops blocking bus stops, sitting in "no parking" zones or double-parked.

Cop cars blocking fire hydrants make him particularly incensed.

"Something like that is just despicable," Jimmy fumed, pointing to a police enforcement vehicle parked next to a fire hydrant on 33rd Street on Manhattan's West Side on a muggy July afternoon. "They're never allowed to block a fire hydrant -- but they do it."

He posts his best videos on YouTube and sends regular e-mail to the union representing the city's traffic enforcement agents, pointing out the most egregious parking offenses. And he has gotten results, he said, with some parking enforcers being fined because of his videos.

"I'm using a video camera as a weapon," he said. "I believe a video does not lie."

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Watch videos of "Jimmy Justice" in action.

Comments

[Okieborn]

"LET'S GIVE JIMMY JUSTICE A BIG CHEER !!!!
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK YOUNG MAN !!!!!

[gifu]

"Maybe your life is in danger."---cop #2. Long live Miranda........

[Adam11]

why is this guy ONLY going after Black Officers. (specaily Females).?

i thought he was doing good job.but after i watched 9 videos of his, all i see is a black female, after black female after black female..and on,.......what a Coward Racist.

[chronic]

Actually there are utube clips of Jimmy going after officers of all races.

Research!!

[mypetmachine]

It might just be--though it might be hard to believe--that the only people he has caught have been black.

[bikerdude]

Perhaps the people he catches breaking the law are black females. Wonder how many of NY's finest are black women? Anyone have a count? Calling him a coward and racist is the MOST foolish part of your very foolish post.

[MysteryD]

In his defense it looks as if he's going mostly after traffic enforcement cops which if New York is anything like here in Pittsburgh are mostly female. That could be because there is sexism within the NYPD and females are forced to accept those jobs, or alternatively maybe women seek a less dangerous law enforcement roll. I'm not an expert but either one seems plausible. There is also probably a higher percentage of blacks in NYC than in other cities like Pittsburgh which would also explain there being a high number of black officers in the NYPD.

While I think law enforcement should be held accountable and more closely monitored I think the disrespect he shows these cops sets a bad precedent. You gotta take a step back and remember its a job, just like most other jobs. Theres people that are good at their jobs and some that are really bad, and with my former work as an activist I've had encounters with both good and bad. While I think its good to hold bad or belligerent cops accountable, endorsing disrespect of law enforcement will also impede the legitimate function of good officers within the community.

[Nezua]

If Jimmy Justice is busting lawbreaking cops, bravo. If he is exclusively targeting black & usually female cops? Sort of gross.

[Titonwan]

On it's face, it appears that way, but maybe they didn't get the memo... it's... ahhh... illegal to block fire hydrants, regardless of race, creed or religion. I plead the "Barack" on this one.

[KPinSEA]

Having seen a little more of the video, however, I agree with those who find his confrontational dialogue with cops to be a turn-off.

LIfe lesson, don't get into arguments with cops, kids. You want to video them doing wrong, you want to get their badge number, you want to complain to their boss: go for it. Indignantly telling a cop "you're a boob" is so very New York, but so very dumb.

[myturnnow]

Bravo Jimmy Justice, it is with brave people like you that show up the corruption around us. I have had an encounter with a lying, deceptive police officer in court before, who gave me a ticket I did not deserve. We had our day in court and he lost. Did he apologize for his "mistake" and my losing a days worth of work and pay to challenge him? NO, of course not! That is justice folks. We have to do it ourselves to show up the filth around us. There should be more Jimmy Justice around. Hey, maybe we the people could use our new found tech equipments and be Jenny and Jimmy Justices!!!

[JiminNC]

Great! Stay after them Jimmy!

[bikerdude]

I wish we had a whole platoon of Jimmy Justice types keeping an eye or camera on these perps. NYers should be clammoring for justice.

[KPinSEA]

I do like turning the camera around and pointing it back at the State that's monitoring us.

Their message is "be good, we're watching."

I like the message "yeah ... us too."

[Diogenis]

Wow, am I inspired! I'm gonna run out and buy myself a camera. The whole world is taping...everything these days. Wooo hooooo

[realityczech4u]

the State that's monitoring us.

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Sounds ominous. Diabolical. Ewwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

[Bitsko]

Jimmy Justice has quickly become a New York City legend. There's also a fellow in the West Village who warns people not to smoke reefer on his block, since the cops have been busting folks there.

Old skool bohemian New Yorkers still exist! Don't know how they afford the rents, but I don't know I afford mine, either.

[Destin]

Well, that's one way to "watch the watchers", or how to hold the Govt accountable. I just wish more of us would do it on a regular basis, especially in and around the DC area. Bush loves to spy on every American as if he is Big Brother, but I bet he won't like it if we were able to do it. ;)

[eagleye]

YouTube is a fantastic resource. The guy who sold it for $2.5 billion or whatever deserves every penny, because he is changing society for the better.

Enclosed is a link to some YouTube video shot by a guy in Maine, who is keeping a close eye on the nasty cement plant in his neighborhood. Check this guy out, he's got a bunch of videos on You Tube, complete with native Maine accent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_RAhcWf-a0

[econdr]

why were all the cops he encountered women? maybe the male cops would just beat his a$$?

[mulegino]

This is an excellent example of the "sovereign citizen" at work! We must never forget that the true sovereignty in the United States resides in the people thereof, not in the government or in the police powers of the state. Both exist to serve the people, and good cops realize that their role is that of the "peace officer", i.e., to uphold and enforce the laws, protect the public's life and property, and ensure the public peace, not to be a swaggering, tazer carrying , entitled and self important vulgarian.
Americans must be ceaseless in their demands that police departments never forget their true role, nor neglect to instill in their officers an absolute respect for the rights of all citizens, including the accused.
Those wearing a badge are entitled to respect only insofar as they earn and reciprocate it.

[Darsch]

Why hassle cops about minor traffic violations? Pointless... This guy needs to wait until he catches a cop beating someone down or being corrupt in some way then come post a video.

I make illegal u-turns too... I don't need some idiot getting in my face about it. These cops don't either.

[johnmorgan]

The difference is that you don't consider yourself above the law.

People in power need to be reminded that they must answer to us, not the other way around.

[scoobynooby]

Old hat, huffpost is way behind on JJ. He's been around a long while now.

[adled]

I remember back in the 90's some 'uptight citizen' dressed down a cop in a corner store because of something similar and the cop in return gave him a few good smacks upside the head (all caught on video tape) all the while berating him and his 'good' deeds. I remember being of two minds while watching. One, naivete is justly rewarded and two, this "experienced" cop is complacent and stupid in his own right (it's the age of video tape, dope, wake-up and join the modern era!)

[realityczech4u]

It doesn't appear that it ever occured to you to question why a videocam was on the scene and ready to instantly start recording in a corner store. This clearly appears to be a setup, i.e,, Miscreant #1 provokes tha cop whilst Miscreant #2 gets out his camcorder and gets the likely reaction on tape.
The police need to be on guard for this sort of thing now more than ever. One need look no further than the comments that accompany the recent string of anti-cop videos on this website to see the level of contempt for authority in general, and the police in particular, that is afoot in this rapidly decaying society.