NYPD Chief of Patrol Abruptly Retires After Conflict with Mayor
The NYPD's chief of patrol abruptly retired Wednesday after reportedly clashing with Mayor Bill de Blasio. Chief Fausto Pichardo held the position for less than a year.
The NYPD's chief of patrol abruptly retired Wednesday after reportedly clashing with Mayor Bill de Blasio. Chief Fausto Pichardo held the position for less than a year.
CBS News reports the mayor says Pichardo is retiring early for a personal reason, but other sources claim he’s resigning, frustrated at being micromanaged and undermined by the mayor.
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, caught off guard by this, says he tried to dissuade Pichardo, but failed.
Pichardo’s final straw allegedly happened when he returned home from long hours at the Borough park protests over new COVID-related restrictions. Sources say he missed calls and messages from the mayor which led to a blowout over the phone. The mayor wanted him to handle a block party in the Bronx.
De Blasio has denied there was an argument.
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