The new service was announced after NYPD Officer Patrick Pogan was filmed forcefully removing Christopher Long, who was participating in a Critical Mass rally, from his bicycle while Long rode along with other Critical Mass members.  A 70-second video was filmed last weekend and the unknown person uploaded it to YouTube, where it was viewed more than 250,000 times in 48 hours -- Long is now facing charges of attempted assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.

In a different incident involving the NYPD, a police officer was caught bludgeoning a man who was on the ground subdued by another police officer.

In a final incident a NYPD officer was filmed reportedly beating 28-year-old Walter Harvin even though he was already handcuffed.

As eyewitness videos are becoming more common place due to higher availability of camera phones able to record video, police authorities hope citizens will be willing to capture data and anonymously send it along.

The ability to anonymously send footage will allow average patrons to stand up and do something -- both against criminals and police officers behaving badly.  New York City's latest initiative has earned praise from civil rights groups.

"I think that while it's appropriate for the police department to invite video reports of wrong doing both by ordinary people and police officers, the New York Police Department has a long way to go to ensure that police officers who engage in wrongdoing like what was captured in the two video tapes that were recently disclosed are held accountable," said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York City Liberties Union.

The new NYPD service is expected to launch soon.