NYPD ready for unrest after verdict
The NYPD is bracing for potential unrest over an expected recommendation on Friday to resolve departmental charges against the cop accused of putting Eric Garner in a fatal chokehold, police sources told The Post Thursday.
Several borough commanders were told to potentially hold over one lieutenant, one sergeant and 16 patrol officers from the 8 a.m.-to-4 p.m. shifts on Friday through Sunday.
The orders came in anticipation of NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Trials Rosemarie Maldonado delivering her nonbinding verdict in the case against cop Daniel Pantaleo, the sources said.
NYPD officials plan to notify Garner’s family of Maldonado’s verdict, and police brass fear an outbreak of civil disturbances if she rules in Pantaleo’s favor, sources said.
Maldonado presided at a trial held over seven days in May and June, at which Pantaleo, 33, declined to testify.
Under NYPD rules, Maldonado’s written verdict will be sent to the Civilian Complaint Review Board, which prosecuted the case, and Pantaleo’s defense lawyer, Stuart London.
In the event Maldonado finds Pantaleo guilty, she will also recommend his punishment.
Each side will have two weeks to submit responses to NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill, who can overrule Maldonado’s verdict whether she sides with or against Pantaleo.
O’Neill can take as much time as he wants to decide the embattled cop’s fate.
O’Neill has previously declined to say if he’ll follow his deputy’s recommendation.
“I’m not going to prejudge anything that’s going on,” he said in May while Pantaleo’s trial was underway.
Mayor de Blasio — who has engaged in a long-shot campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination — will be in the city Friday but has no plans to meet with O’Neill, a spokeswoman said.
“We’re having ongoing conversations with community leaders, civic leaders and advocates to ensure there is no confusion regarding the process and next steps,” mayoral press secretary Freddi Goldstein said.
Wednesday night, de Blasio was heckled with chants of “Fire Pantaleo!” during the Democratic primary debate in Detroit.
When asked by a moderator why Pantaleo was still employed by the NYPD, de Blasio predicted that Garner’s family was “going to get justice.”
“There’s finally going to be justice. I have confidence in that, in the next 30 days, in New York,” he said.
Earlier Wednesday, a de Blasio campaign surrogate, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda (DBronx) told The Post he had “no doubt that if due process permitted an immediate firing, I believe the mayor would have fired him immediately.”
A veteran NYPD official said O’Neill was facing a no-win situation in dealing with Pantaleo.
“The city’s going blow up if he doesn’t fire him,” the source said, adding that de Blasio would also likely fire O’Neill.
But if O’Neill fires Pantaleo, he’ll lose all respect from rankand-file cops, the official said.