The NYPD has come under scrutiny recently for alleged discriminatory surveillance. JURIST guest columnist Samar Warsi in May questioned [JURIST comment] the NYPD policies stating: "It is vital to be cautious when government officials use glittering generalities such as 'national security' and 'counterterrorism' to legitimize acts and policies in clear contravention of basic constitutional guarantees." In May, New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa concluded that the NYPD's surveillance program did not violate the Constitution [AP report]. Chiesa had launched an investigation into the program after a series of AP articles sparked outrage in New Jersey in February. In March, NYPD commissioner Raymond Kelly [official profile] adamantly denied [speech; press release] that the surveillance programs were unconstitutional.