Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Watch Live: NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton To Resign

youtube.com

NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton — perhaps the most notable and recognized police official in the United States — will announce his resignation Tuesday in a surprise announcement.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has an announcement related to the NYPD on his official schedule set for noon. Bratton recently told the New York Times that he would resign after 2017.

Bratton will reportedly be replaced by Chief of Department James O'Neill.

A federal corruption investigation has recently rocked the NYPD and City Hall. In April, four high-ranking police officers were disciplined in the probe. The officers allegedly accepted bribes — including in the form of free meals and international trips — from a wealthy businessman.

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

The NYPD started an investigation with the Internal Affairs Bureau at the end of September 2013. In early 2014, the FBI and Department of Justice began their own investigation, and the organizations consolidated their reviews.

At the center of the scandal are Jona Rechnitz, a real-estate investor, and Jeremy Reichberg, a community leader. Both served on de Blasio's inauguration committee in 2013 and made campaign contributions.

De Blasio's campaign took $9,900 in contributions from Rechnitz, while de the mayor's nonprofit organization, the Campaign for One New York, recieved $50,000 from him, according to the New York Post.

The investigation concluded some top-ranking NYPD officials accepted free meals, trips, and other benefits in exchange for favors to Reicnitz and Reichberg.

Also, more recently, a black state assemblyman said he was roughed up by the NYPD during an altercation at a Bronx housing development.

Michael Blake visited the Morris Houses in Claremont Village in the Bronx last weekend — the area he represents in the state Assembly — when he encountered a woman handcuffed and another woman and a man arguing with a police officer, according to the New York Daily News.

When Blake approached, the police officer grabbed him and shoved him against a gate, according to the Daily News. Police claimed that Blake put his hand on the officer's shoulder from behind, but Blake said he does not remember doing that, adding that he wanted an apology from Bratton.

Bratton refused to apologize for the incident.

“There will be no apology forthcoming from me,” Bratton said after he met with Blake. “I have no reason to believe that the officer behaved in a significantly inappropriate manner.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.




from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/2athgtW

No comments:

Post a Comment