Bochinche & Buzz: Should Bratton demote tarnished NYPD brass?

There appears to be growing sentiment among some retired NYPD officers that while the FBI corruption investigation continues to rock the department, Commissioner Bill Bratton should take action.

A handful of NYPD retirees that we spoke with are concerned by Bratton’s apparent inaction in sending a clear message that will resonate among the brass and rank-and-file in every precinct in the five boroughs.

The retirees took issue with Bratton’s statement on the corruption investigations into the department: “The public has expectations of its public officials, of the leadership of the department, and those expectations were not met. This is not a particularly good day for the department.” These words were not enough. “Bratton has hung around politicians for too long,” one retiree opined.

Part of the resentment by the retired officers is that they played by the book and didn't dishonor the oath of service. From their vantage point, if they were careful in not violating NYPD rules and policies in addition to the city’s conflicts of interest rules and federal criminal laws, why are these guys not been held accountable by Bratton?

As already reported, the investigations are in part focused on the acceptance of gifts for favors by high-ranking officers.

Asked what form of action Bratton could take that would send an unequivocal message that corruption will not be tolerated, the NYPD retirees outlined the following steps.

1. At a minimum Bratton should immediately demote all the chiefs under investigation who have filed for retirement back to their civil service rank of captain. The commissioner can do this with the stroke of a pen.

2. Bratton should then file departmental charges against them within 30 days of the demotion – which the NYPD can hold in abeyance pending the conclusion of the federal investigation.

3. Unless they are criminally convicted and subsequently fired – which should deny them their pension – the demotion would substantially lower their salary and thus their pension were they to get one.

There are over 40,000 NYPD retirees at present. While the ones we spoke with are not by any means reflective of the majority, they do have a voice that could become louder as the investigation uncovers more corruption. That could become a public relations problem – and provide plenty of fodder for the tabloids.