GUARDING HIS TURF
Controversial head of Hizzoner’s protection unit stays in job thanks to Blaz, sources say
The embattled head of Mayor de Blasio’s NYPD bodyguard unit remains in his prestigious post — and sources inside the department believe it’s all thanks to the man he’s supposed to protect.
Sources tell the Daily News Inspector Howard Redmond was going to be removed from his role as commanding officer of the Executive Protection Unit — until the mayor stepped in.
The decision to reassign Redmond was made by Intelligence Division Chief Thomas Galati and Commissioner James O’Neill in the summer, sources said, as The News ran a series about turmoil within the EPU.
But sources close to the unit believe de Blasio saved Redmond’s job. Only de Blasio would have the authority to override Galati and O’Neill.
“When people get to the point where they think they are untouchable, it’s not surprising,” a source said. “None of this would have happened at any other level in the NYPD or any other department. It was a ground ball they let go into the outfield.”
City Hall and the NYPD denied de Blasio had any role in the review of the unit.
“Decisions regarding the executive protection unit, including any potential personnel issues, are made solely by the NYPD,” agency spokesman Phil Walzak said, adding: “The mayor was not consulted nor provided input on personnel decisions. The Intelligence Bureau did not want to remove Insp. Redmond.”
Redmond was a central figure in six discrimination lawsuits filed by disgruntled members of the EPU. They alleged the unit was highly politicized and that promotions and desirable assignments were given to white, young cops in Redmond’s favor.
One highly decorated detective in the unit believed he’d fallen out of favor with Redmond because of his age, resulting in a reassignment to guard an area behind City Hall used for garbage disposal. A black detective said he was routinely given duties beneath his rank, like standing guard outside Gracie Mansion in 20-degree weather.
The discrimination claims are backed up by an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission finding of black detectives being treated unfairly within the Intel Division, which includes the EPU. Two retired black detectives and the widow of another who also alleged discrimination received a $700,000 settlement from the city last week.
The discord in the EPU even got physical. A retired sergeant told The News the unit’s second-in-command, Lt. Karl Pfeffer, had drunkenly yelled and shoved him at Gracie Mansion, and that Redmond had covered it up. The NYPD closed a “thorough” probe after finding the incident was “unsubstantiated.” No one was disciplined. An official said Internal Affairs couldn’t examine video of the incident because it had been destroyed. But The News published it Friday.
Another source said an EPU sergeant who tested positive for pot in 2017 was also a source of embarrassment.
The apparent decision by de Blasio to keep Redmond in his post fits with the mayor’s pattern of standing by scandalscarred officials. He supported embattled former NYCHA boss Shola Olatoye, even after it emerged she’d given erroneous testimony to the City Council about lead paint inspections. He stood by ex-Administration for Children’s Services head Gladys Carrión even after high-profile beating deaths of young boys on the agency’s radar. He also allowed the head of OATH, Fidel Del Valle, to take a “healthrelated” leave rather than firing him after he loudly and profanely berated an NYPD cop at City Hall.
“This claim is completely false. The mayor is not involved in PD’s internal reviews. We have total confidence in the protection unit’s leadership and professionalism,” a City Hall spokeswoman said.
Sources say the commanding officer job is uniquely powerful. Redmond answers not just to Galati and O’Neill, but also directly to de Blasio.
A sergeant who worked on the EPU when de Blasio took office in 2014 said he was not an easy “principal.” His trips from Gracie Mansion to work out at the Park Slope YMCA were a source of stress for the unit.
“He’s the smartest man in the room. Just ask him. That’s his MO. He throws jabs but you can’t jab back cause he’s the mayor,” the source said.
The sergeant retired in 2015 after a 10 months in which he ran afoul of Redmond. He said the powerful inspector held an inexplicable grudge against cops he thought were overweight.
“It was a mistake working for him. Probably the biggest mistake of my life,” the sergeant said.