BIAS CLAIM VS. BOSS OF BILL GUARDS
Black detective’s suit: White officers given better posts
A black detective on Mayor de Blasio’s security detail says he was given demeaning duties like standing guard outside of Gracie Mansion for 17 hours in freezing weather while his white counterparts received more desirable assignments and promotions.
Detective Erin Fitchett’s lawsuit, which will be filed Thursday, is the fourth discrimination case brought by a member of the mayor’s troubled Executive Protection Unit. The detective blames the commanding officer, Inspector Howard Redmond, as well as Lt. Karl Pfeffer and Sgt. Paul Briscoe for “systemic preferential assignments and preferential promotions that result in discriminatory practices.” He seeks $10 million in damages.
Fitchett, 43, says in papers in Manhattan Federal Court that he’s had an exemplary record since joining the force in 2005. He was assigned to the mayor’s detail in 2014 — but didn’t get promoted to detective third grade until January 2017, after filing a union grievance.
His responsibilities included guarding de Blasio’s kids, Dante and Chiara, as well as working on the “advance team” of police that arrives ahead of the mayor.
But much of his time was wasted on jobs not befitting his rank that Briscoe assigned to him, he says.
“Sergeant Briscoe has made (Fitchett) stand by the front gate of Gracie Mansion in a suit and tie in 20-degree weather for his entire 17-hour shift. Sergeant Briscoe orders (Fitchett) to do this even though there are two uniform police officers always stationed at the gate,” the suit says.
Fitchett — who did community outreach on the NYPD’s boxing team — also had to check in at Briscoe’s desk before every shift, unlike other detectives, the suit says.
“If you have to go to the bathroom, you have to check in with me first. I’m the boss,” Briscoe allegedly said.
A police source said that Fitchett had been steadily climbing the ranks of the NYPD and that his history in the department suggested “zero discrimination.”
“This lawsuit has all the markings of being frivolous,” the source said, echoing de Blasio’s skepticism of the mounting discrimination allegations. On Oct. 11, 2017, Fitchett says he complained to Redmond about his undesirable assignments. The commanding officer vowed to “take care of it,” but nothing was done, the suit says. Instead, around December 2017, Fitchett was again ordered to stand guard in 20-degree weather.
“The uniformed officers there felt so bad that they took their heater and gave it to (Fitchett) because of the cold,” the suit says.
Fitchett cites a 2016 determination by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding the NYPD’s Intel Division, which includes the Executive Protection Unit.
“Black detectives in general received lesser and later opportunities for promotion consistent with their qualifications,” the EEOC found.
The determination is part of a separate, ongoing lawsuit brought by three black detectives in the Intel Unit.
Fitchett’s claims resemble those of three other members of the EPU who have filed lawsuits alleging discrimination due to their age, national origin or religion. They are all represented by the same attorney, Marshall Bellovin.
“There’s never been a shred of evidence of discrimination in the protection unit and we have total confidence in its leadership and professionalism,” de Blasio spokesman Eric Phillips said.
Nevertheless, the EPU has recently undergone changes in its upper ranks. Pfeffer, who was Redmond’s secondin-command, has been transferred out of the unit. Briscoe was moved out of the unit in April in anticipation of the discrimination claims, according to Fitchett’s suit.