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Read the press release here.

NYPD Says Twitter Campaign That Backfired Provides 'Open Forum'

By Ben Fractenberg | April 22, 2014 7:23pm | Updated on April 23, 2014 7:42am
 Cops arrested a protester on Sept. 17, 2012, the anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Cops arrested a protester on Sept. 17, 2012, the anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
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DNAinfo/Tuan Nguyen

MANHATTAN — Hours after police saw their #myNYPD hashtag hijacked by people tweeting dramatic photos of officers arresting people, the department issued a statement saying Twitter “provides an open forum for an uncensored exchange.” 

The NYPD’s Twitter feed first sent out this message Tuesday afternoon, asking people to take pictures of themselves with officers.

But things perhaps did not go as planned, with the hashtag instead being used to post images like this:

The NYPD’s official press department put out this statement about 6:30 p.m.:

“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.”