29-year-old Christopher Long of Hoboken, New Jersey, was participating in a Critical Mass bike ride in New York City on July 25, 2008, when he was pushed to the ground by rookie police officer Patrick Pogan. The incident was captured on videotape and the footage contradicteds Pogan's sworn statement, in which he claims Long deliberately steered his bicycle towards him, thus knocking both men to the ground.NJ.com: Bicyclist Body-checked by NY Cop Is From Hoboken (July 28, 2008)
Pogan ceased to work for the New York Police Department in February of 2009, though whether this was the result of his resigning or being terminated is a matter of some debate. He could face up to 4 years in prison on charges of falsifying records.PlanetSave: Cop Who Shoved Cyclist Fired by NYPD... (February 20, 2009)
Critical Mass
Critical Mass is a monthly bicycle ride where participants promote cycling and other non-polluting ways of transportation. Critical Mass is not an organization, but rather a loose community of like-minded cyclists who participate in local events across the United States.Time's Up: Critical Mass The first Critical Mass ride took place in September of 1992 in San Francisco.Critical-mass.info: [1] The first Critical Mass ride in New York City took place in 1993.Time's Up: Critical Mass