It’s NYPD blue (& red-faced)

‘Murdered’ cop is alive

Authorities announced on Sunday that they had finally busted a fugitive for killing an NYPD cop in 1999 — only it turns out the former officer is still alive.

“Yeah, I know, we’re putting something out on that,’’ a sheepish Police Department rep told The Post on Monday when asked about the “fatal’’ mistake in the case of newly nabbed suspect Lester Pearson and the officer he is accused of shooting 20 years ago in The Bronx, Vincent Ling.

“All we can say is, ‘Sorry about that,’ ” a law-enforcement source added of the flub.

US marshals had said Sunday that Pearson was caught in Florida last week on a warrant related to the shooting.

It’s unclear how Pearson, who has been performing as rapper Monsta Kodi, was tracked down, but he’s accused of shooting Ling during a dispute over the suspect dating the cop’s sister.

Ling, who was 27 and working undercover at the time, was shot in the chest. The bullet lodged between two vertebrae, paralyzing him.

NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill’s tweet Sunday left no doubt that Ling eventually died.

“Thanks to @JSOPIO & @USMarshalsGov for capturing the career criminal who killed offduty #NYPD Officer Vincent Ling in 1999,’’ O’Neill wrote.

“Law enforcement professionals demonstrate time & again that we are patient & that our collaborative forces have a very long reach,” the commish added.

But Ling, now 47, is actually still with us, the department acknowledged Monday.

“Retired Police Officer Ling, who was shot in 1999, is alive,’’ said NYPD spokeswoman Sgt. Jessica McRorie.

“A misreading of the attemptedmurder charge on Pearson’s arrest warrant led to the confusion about his death.’’

The NYPD did not respond to questions about how it came to learn that Ling wasn’t dead.

Ling was unable to be reached for comment Monday. Records indicate that he lives in The Bronx, but no one answered the door or phone at the home.

Meanwhile, Pearson is being held in Florida until New York can extradite him, authorities said.

He has a lengthy arrest record, according to US Marshals, who said he was nabbed in Louisiana in 2005 for having 100 pounds of pot, then attacked an officer investigating the drug haul.