Barneys officials announced on Wednesday that they'll soon begin keeping an eye on police that monitor the shoppers in the New York City location.
According to an internal memo sent to Barneys security staff on Tuesday, the luxury retailer will start keeping a record of the officers that utilize the security room where police and security employees watch customers. Barneys also added that video and audio surveillance would be installed in the security room, so staff could keep watch on the procedures taking place within.
The memo obtained by the Associated Press said that any officer using the room must give "a reasonable description of the individual or individuals that they wish to place under surveillance and the reason the police wish to place such individuals under surveillance."
Barneys' announcement comes amid a racial profiling scandal, after two young, black customers said they were stopped by officials at the store after they'd made purchases.
Trayon Christian sued the store after he was reportedly accused of stealing the debit card he used - said to be his own - to purchase a $349 Salvatore Ferragamo belt. Kayla Phillips then filed after detectives questioned her outside Barneys concerning a $2,500 Celine purse she bought in February, AP reported.
Following an initial investigation commissioned by Barneys, the store stated that its employees didn't pursue the two accused, but that New York Police Department officers did instead.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly maintained that NYPD officers arrived at the store at the behest of the Barneys employees who called them there.
A spokesperson from the NYPD did not respond for comment.
