NYPD Chief of Department Philip Banks resigns after 28 years on force
The 28-year veteran abruptly retired four days after agreeing to become first deputy commissioner. Banks' shocking departure blindsided Mayor de Blasio, left the NYPD without its two top minority officers and unleashed scathing criticism about the lack of diversity in the department.
BY ROCCO PARASCANDOLA , JENNIFER FERMINO , LARRY MCSHANE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Published: Friday, October 31, 2014, 10:33 AM
Chief of Department Philip Banks, in a Friday morning stunner, abruptly retired
rather than become the NYPD’s second-in-command — with a reduced crime-fighting role.
The shocking departure of the 28-year veteran blindsided
Mayor de Blasio,
left the NYPD without its two top minority officers and unleashed scathing criticism about the lack of diversity in the department.
“
(Commissioner Bill) Bratton is trying to bring it back to a male, white-dominated police department,” said Anthony Miranda, head of the National Latino Officers Association. “Historically, that has not been the effective leadership to represent minority communities.”
The well-known, well-regarded Banks, 51, ended his illustrious career by filing his papers at 1 Police Plaza just
four days after agreeing to become first deputy commissioner. Banks had
hoped to expand the powers of the oft-marginalized first deputy’s job — but came to an impasse with Bratton over the parameters of the job he was being promoted to, sources said. Rather than negotiate the responsibilities of the new gig, the hands-on cop decided to walk.
He was scheduled to replace
Rafael Piñeiro, who retired effective Friday from the NYPD’s No. 2 spot. Banks was
making $200,000 a year in his old job.
As the city’s highest-ranked uniformed officer since March 2013,
Banks enjoyed making tactical decisions and had little interest in landing behind a desk.
Word of his sudden departure was a headache for Bratton,
plunging him and the 35,000-member NYPD into a maelstrom of political intrigue. It also sent shock waves through the rank-and-file, as well as City Hall.
But
few people got the news as early and from as high up the ladder as the Rev. Al Sharpton did. Sharpton said de Blasio called him Friday morning after Banks announced his resignation. Sharpton said he hopes to speak with Banks to get the former chief’s take on things.
“I told the mayor my concern is about diversity in the upper ranks, and reform of the police department,” Sharpton told the Daily News.
The name of
Gerald Nelson, the head of patrol borough Brooklyn and
now the NYPD’s highest-ranking black officer, was already floated as a possible Banks replacement.
De Blasio, walking out of City Hall, declined to comment on exactly what led to Banks’ decision.
“I don’t want to interpret other people’s views,” the mayor said. “But I can tell you this much: I think he’s done a lot for the city. I think he’s had a great career with the NYPD.”
A source told The News that de Blasio tried to get Banks to change his mind. Insiders have said
Banks was being groomed as a possible replacement for Bratton whenever he steps down.
Ed Mullins, head of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, said he was sorry to see Banks leave — but not as sorry as the mayor. “
Politically, it’s a nightmare for the mayor,” he said. Public Advocate
Letitia James, in an unlikely pairing, echoed the union head.
“The fact that 10 months into this administration the top uniformed police officer believed that he had to resign is deeply troubling,” she said.
Bratton, who announced Banks’ promotion earlier this week, was left to explain what went wrong. He made no mention of any rift between the pair either personally or professionally, and described their relationship as “simpatico.”
The top cop maintained he assured Banks the First Deputy’s responsibilities would expand under his administration from the largely more mundane duties of the past. “He was going to be, effectively, my right-hand man as he had largely been this past year,” Bratton said. Banks, speaking later with The News, hailed the NYPD but
did not address the circumstances of his departure or say what he plans to do next.
“I think the police department is a fine organization,” he said. “If it was on the stock market, I think it would be the most valuable company in the world.”
The NYPD also came under heavy criticism from advocacy group
Blacks in Law Enforcement of America, as well as
City Council Members Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn),
Vanessa Gibson (D-Bronx) and
Andy King (D-Bronx).
“I am outraged and angered over the abrupt departure of NYPD Chief of Department Philip Banks,” said King,
co-chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus.
“As the highest-ranking black official in the NYPD,
Banks has always been a familiar face in our communities of color, particularly in times of conflict and resolution. This is a big loss and a black eye for the NYPD.”
Sources indicated Banks viewed first deputy as a more of an office position — even with the expanded role laid out by Bratton. The veteran cop, in the end, believed the new position was just not as good as his old job.
“He loved being chief of department,” said one source. “
Anyone who knows the police department knows that the three best jobs are commissioner, chief of detectives and chief of department.”
Piñeiro was appointed by former Police Commissioner
Raymond Kelly, and i
nsiders say Bratton pressured Piñeiro to retire so he could hand-pick his own first deputy.With Erik Badia.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...icle-1.1994283
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