NYPD Blues

Five months ago, citing terrorism concerns, U.S. District Judge Charles Haight lifted limits on how the New York Police Department can initiate an investigation. Yesterday he restored the rules.

According to Newsday,

Haight said he changed his mind following the disclosure that on Feb. 15th the police had arrested 274 people protesting the war in Iraq and questioned them about their political beliefs, entering their responses on what the department called a "demonstration debriefing" form.

Among the questions: "Do you hate George W. Bush? Do you think anything would be different if Al Gore were elected? What is your opinion of the war in Iraq? Don't you think it was necessary for us to get involved in World War II?"