NYPD Twitter campaign backfires

In a major public relations disaster, the New York City police today made a hasty retreat after its Twitter hashtag was hijacked by angry citizens who posted photos showing alleged police brutality or misconduct.
The New York City Police Department yesterday had asked people on Twitter to post photos with its friendly officers, using the hashtag #myNYPD.
The response was swift -- and overwhelmingly negative.
Hijacking the hashtag, users posted photographs that allege to show police brutality or misconduct.
"Free Massages from the #NYPD. What does YOUR Police Department offer?" tweeted @OccupyWallStNYC, which posted an image of officers holding a man, seemingly screaming, with his arms behind his back, on top of a car.

"The #NYPD will also help you de-tangle your hair," tweeted @MoreAndAgain, posting a photo of an officer pulling the hair of a person who appears to be under arrest.

Asked about the campaign, an NYPD spokeswoman defended it.
"The NYPD is creating new ways to communicate effectively with the community. Twitter provides an open forum for an uncensored exchange and this is an open dialogue good for our city," CNN quoted NYPD Deputy Chief Kim Y Royster as saying.
The social media fail was reminiscent of another recent Twitter debacle.
In 2012, McDonald's created the #McDstories hashtag, asking customers to share their favorite McDonald's memories.

The company yanked the campaign after just two hours and countless food-horror stories about fingernails, insects and bouts of food poisoning.