Latest news with #InternalAffairsBureau
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
NYPD inspector bumped for keeping more than 70 troubled recruits at academy — including ex-‘sex for OT' cop's nephew: sources
An NYPD inspector was quietly bumped from his police academy job for allegedly keeping dozens of recruits on board — even after they failed to meet the department's mental health standards, law-enforcement sources said. Terrell Anderson, who led the NYPD's 'Candidate Assessment Division,' was transferred to the housing unit May 12 as part of an Internal Affairs Bureau probe into claims he allowed more than 70 candidates to stay at the Police Academy despite them failing psych requirements. An NYPD spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Anderson was transferred and said the department does not comment on internal investigations. Among the troubled recruits allegedly kept on by Anderson was the nephew of ex-NYPD Lt. Quathisha Epps — the former department bigwig implicated in a tawdry sex-for-OT scandal, the sources said. Epps was the highest paid cop on the force when she retired in December over the shocking sex scandal, reeling in $400,000 a year in salary and overtime, The Post previously reported. According to the sources, Anderson claimed he had gotten a call from Epps telling him to keep her young relative Emilio Andino at the academy, though he should have been disqualified. Anderson claimed to investigators that various NYPD brass also pushed him to keep other non-qualified recruits on board, because the department was desperate to fill its depleted ranks, according to the sources. The claims are part of the ongoing IAB investigation, the sources said. Andino remains at the academy despite getting suspended last month for allegedly slapping another recruit, the sources said. He has since filed filed a lawsuit claiming the scuffle stemmed from a campaign of discrimination fueled by his aunt's public sex scandal. Attorney Eric Sanders, who represents Andino and Epps in her own 'whistleblower' lawsuit against the city and the department, did not respond for a request for comment Thursday. He addressed Andino's claims in a press release last month. 'This case exemplifies how institutions retaliate not only against whistleblowers—but also those connected to them,' Sanders said. 'Andino didn't violate policy, commit a crime, or fail to perform. He was targeted because of who his aunt is and what she dared to expose.' Sources said the department has been facing pressure to shore up its dwindling ranks, with that extending to Anderson, who was in charge of recruit assessment. NYPD staffing numbers have plummeted in recent years, with 34,475 unformed officers this year down from 40,200 in 2000. The crisis prompted Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to lower some standards for recruits, reinstating the 1.5 mile timed run but reducing college credit requirements and other measures in February. Last month, the department graduated its first class since the standards were eased, with the city announcing a target of 35,000 cops in uniform by next year. Before she retired, Epps had a lot of pull in the department due to her assignment to former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, who she later accused of extorting her for sex. She claimed that Maddrey repeatedly coaxed her into demeaning sexual encounters in exchange for favors and hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime, The Post revealed in December. Maddrey, who described the trysts as consensual, abruptly retired after the scandal broke. — Additional reporting by Tina Moore and Joe Marino
New York Post
22-05-2025
- New York Post
NYPD inspector bumped for keeping more than 70 troubled recruits at academy — including ex-‘sex for OT' cop's nephew: sources
An NYPD inspector was quietly bumped from his police academy job for allegedly keeping dozens of recruits on board — even after they failed to meet the department's mental health standards, law-enforcement sources said. Terrell Anderson, who led the NYPD's 'Candidate Assessment Division,' was transferred to the housing unit May 12 as part of an Internal Affairs Bureau probe into claims he allowed more than 70 candidates to stay at the Police Academy despite them failing psych requirements. An NYPD spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Anderson was transferred and said the department does not comment on internal investigations. Among the troubled recruits allegedly kept on by Anderson was the nephew of ex-NYPD Lt. Quathisha Epps — the former department bigwig implicated in a tawdry sex-for-OT scandal, the sources said. Epps was the highest paid cop on the force when she retired in December over the shocking sex scandal, reeling in $400,000 a year in salary and overtime, The Post previously reported. 5 Emilio Andino, the nephew of former NYPD Lt. Quathisha Epps, was allegedly kept at the police academy at her behest. Helayne Seidman 5 NYPD inspector Terrell Anderson, was transferred as police probe disqualified recruits at the police academy. Facebook According to the sources, Anderson claimed he had gotten a call from Epps telling him to keep her young relative Emilio Andino at the academy, though he should have been disqualified. Anderson claimed to investigators that various NYPD brass also pushed him to keep other non-qualified recruits on board, because the department was desperate to fill its depleted ranks, according to the sources. The claims are part of the ongoing IAB investigation, the sources said. Andino remains at the academy despite getting suspended last month for allegedly slapping another recruit, the sources said. 5 Sources said NYPD brass pushed to keep disqualified recruits at the police academy to fill depleted department ranks. Christopher Sadowski He has since filed filed a lawsuit claiming the scuffle stemmed from a campaign of discrimination fueled by his aunt's public sex scandal. Attorney Eric Sanders, who represents Andino and Epps in her own 'whistleblower' lawsuit against the city and the department, did not respond for a request for comment Thursday. 5 Former NYPD Lt. Quathisha Epps is suing the city, claiming she was extorted for sex by former Chief Jeffrey Maddrey. LP Media He addressed Andino's claims in a press release last month. 'This case exemplifies how institutions retaliate not only against whistleblowers—but also those connected to them,' Sanders said. 'Andino didn't violate policy, commit a crime, or fail to perform. He was targeted because of who his aunt is and what she dared to expose.' Sources said the department has been facing pressure to shore up its dwindling ranks, with that extending to Anderson, who was in charge of recruit assessment. NYPD staffing numbers have plummeted in recent years, with 34,475 unformed officers this year down from 40,200 in 2000. The crisis prompted Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to lower some standards for recruits, reinstating the 1.5 mile timed run but reducing college credit requirements and other measures in February. 5 Terrell Anderson allegedly claimed NYPD brass pressed him to keep disqualified recruites at the police academy. Twitter Last month, the department graduated its first class since the standards were eased, with the city announcing a target of 35,000 cops in uniform by next year. Before she retired, Epps had a lot of pull in the department due to her assignment to former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, who she later accused of extorting her for sex. She claimed that Maddrey repeatedly coaxed her into demeaning sexual encounters in exchange for favors and hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime, The Post revealed in December. Maddrey, who described the trysts as consensual, abruptly retired after the scandal broke. — Additional reporting by Tina Moore and Joe Marino
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Judge again dismisses former Sheriff Villanueva's lawsuit over county's 'do not hire' label
A federal judge has — for the second time — dismissed a $25-million lawsuit by former Sheriff Alex Villanueva against Los Angeles County alleging that county officials defamed him and violated his rights. The lawsuit claimed that Villanueva lost out on potential employment opportunities because his personnel file was flagged as 'do not rehire' after a county panel determined that he had harassed two officials. Villanueva's suit claimed that an Internal Affairs Bureau investigation into his conduct was a 'sham' that violated his due process rights. In September, U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson threw out Villanueva's initial suit but left the door open for him to refile because multiple claims remained unresolved. Read more: How a Mojave Desert footrace became a showcase for L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. turmoil Villanueva refiled the case, alleging that he'd suffered emotional distress and that the 'do not rehire' notation made it difficult for him to find a job. But Wilson again dismissed the suit, writing in his decision Thursday that there was insufficient evidence to prove Villanueva had been harmed or that the designation had caused him to lose out on a desired position. Attorneys for the county did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Wilson wrote that while he had dismissed the final remaining federal claim, there are still state matters pending that the court 'declines to exercise jurisdiction over.' 'We're very pleased that the Sheriff's consequential complaints of defamation and emotional distress will move forward, and that we'll have the opportunity to hold the County of Los Angeles accountable in state court," Carney Shegerian, an attorney for Villanueva, said in a statement. Villanueva's lawsuit arose after Inspector General Max Huntsman accused then-Sheriff Villanueva in 2022 of making a 'racially based attack' by repeatedly referring to Hunstman by his birth name Max-Gustaf. Villanueva also claimed that Hunstman was a Holocaust denier without providing any evidence to support that claim, which Hunstman denied. Read more: Family sues Fontana police in shooting death of unarmed man in driveway Huntsman's complaint led to a county investigation and the "do not hire" designation, which Villanueva maintains was not justified. In a court filing last month, the former sheriff disputed an assessment by a county-hired expert psychiatrist that described him as having 'many attributes of a 'white-collar psychopath.' ' Wilson's 28-page Thursday filing said Villanueva did not provide sufficient evidence to substantiate key claims and that failed to show how he was harmed by the county's actions. The dismissal came on the heels of a filing in the case by lawyers for L.A. County that alleged Villanueva was harassing Sheriff Robert Luna and members of the Board of Supervisors by trying to call them as witnesses at a potential civil trial. Also on Villanueva's intended witness list was former Times reporter Keri Blakinger, who initially reported on the 'do not rehire' designation last year. Court filings in the case say Villanueva allegedly learned of the allegation that Huntsman was a Holocaust denier from former L.A. Sheriff's Department Det. Mark Lillienfeld, who has also been placed on a "do not rehire" list for unrelated reasons. A separate complaint around the time of Hunstman's claim was made by Esther Lim — then a justice deputy for county Supervisor Hilda Solis — who argued that Villanueva had shown a pattern of harassing women of color in comments he made during social media livestreams. Her claim also resulted in an investigation and a "do not rehire" designation. Hunstman and Lim declined to comment Thursday afternoon. Former Times staff writer Keri Blakinger contributed this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
16-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Judge again dismisses ex-sheriff Villanueva's lawsuit over county's ‘do not hire' label
A federal judge has — for the second time — dismissed a $25 million lawsuit by former Sheriff Alex Villanueva against Los Angeles County alleging that county officials defamed him and violated his rights. The lawsuit claimed that Villanueva lost out on potential employment opportunities because his personnel file was flagged as 'do not rehire' after a county panel determined that he had harassed two officials. Villanueva's suit claimed that an Internal Affairs Bureau investigation into his conduct was a 'sham' that violated his due process rights. In September, U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson threw out Villanueva's initial suit but left the door open for him to refile because multiple claims remained unresolved. Villanueva refiled the case, alleging that he'd suffered emotional distress and that the 'do not rehire' notation made it difficult for him to find a job. But Wilson again dismissed the suit, writing in his decision Thursday that there was insufficient evidence to prove Villanueva had been harmed or that the designation had caused him to lose out on a desired position. Attorneys for the county did not immediately respond to a requests for comment. Wilson wrote that while he had dismissed the final remaining federal claim, there are still state matters pending that the court 'declines to exercise jurisdiction over.' 'We're very pleased that the Sheriff's consequential complaints of defamation and emotional distress will move forward, and that we'll have the opportunity to hold the County of Los Angeles accountable in state court,' Carney Shegerian, an attorney for Villanueva, said in a statement. Villanueva's lawsuit arose after Inspector General Max Huntsman accused then-sheriff Villanueva in 2022 of making a 'racially based attack' by repeatedly referring to Hunstman by his birth name Max-Gustaf. Villanueva also claimed that Hunstman was a Holocaust denier without providing any evidence to support that claim, which Hunstman denied. Huntsman's complaint led to a county investigation and the 'do not hire' designation, which Villanueva maintains was not justified. In a court filing last month, the former sheriff disputed an assessment by a county-hired expert psychiatrist that described him as having 'many attributes of a 'white-collar psychopath.'' Wilson's 28-page Thursday filing said Villanueva did not provide sufficient evidence to substantiate key claims and that failed to show how he was harmed by the county's actions. The dismissal came on the heels of a filing in the case by lawyers for L.A. County that alleged Villanueva was harassing Sheriff Robert Luna and members of the Board of Supervisors by trying to call them as witnesses at a potential civil trial. Also on Villanueva's intended witness list was former Times reporter Keri Blakinger, who initially reported on the 'do not rehire' designation last year. Court filings in the case say Villanueva allegedly learned of the allegation that Huntsman was a Holocaust denier from former L.A. Sheriff's Department Det. Mark Lillienfeld, who has also been placed on a Do Not Rehire list for unrelated reasons. A separate complaint around the time of Hunstman's claim was made by Esther Lim — then a justice deputy for county Supervisor Hilda Solis — who argued that Villanueva had shown a pattern of harassing women of color in comments he made during social media livestreams. Her claim also resulted in an investigation and 'do not rehire' designation. Hunstman and Lim declined to comment Thursday afternoon. Former Times staff writer Keri Blakinger contributed this report.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-NYPD commander pleads guilty to off-duty drunk driving crash coverup
A former NYPD commander pleaded guilty Wednesday to covering up an off-duty drunk driving crash with a cabbie on a Midtown Manhattan street in 2022, officials said. Former NYPD deputy inspector Paul Zangrilli, 44, had already been terminated from his high-ranking post — 18 days before he could retire with a full pension. A Manhattan judge sentenced him to a 90-day license suspension and a three-year conditional discharge that prevents him from seeking future employment with the NYPD. Prosecutors said Zangrilli betrayed his badge when he tried to cover up an Aug. 16, 2022 crash with a city cabbie following a night of binge drinking with girlfriend Nikole Rupple, 35, at a Midtown bar. 'Members of law enforcement, particularly those in leadership positions, must obey the laws they are entrusted to enforce,' Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said in a statement. 'Former Deputy Inspector Zangrilli misused his authority to cover up a dangerous drunk driving incident. Public servants who abuse their positions of power and violate the trust of the people they serve will face consequences.' Prosecutors said the couple spent about three hours at the American Whiskey bar before getting into the inspector's NYPD-issued vehicle and heading home. At the bar, Zangrilli, a 19-year veteran, downed around 10 shots of alcohol, according to court documents. He did not get behind the wheel. Instead he let Rupple drive the city vehicle, even though she had seven shots of alcohol and three beers, the court records said. She didn't get far. Shortly after 8:30 p.m. Rupple crashed into a yellow cab at W. 30th St. and 10th Ave. — just a few blocks from the bar — and sped away without stopping. Rupple parked the car a few blocks away on 10th Ave., and the two switched places, officials cabbie caught up with the couple at a red light on W. 34th St. and flagged down a uniformed officer, who pulled over the NYPD vehicle, according to prosecutors. The cab driver suffered minor back and neck injuries in the crash and claimed Zangrilli was drunk but the responding officer sent the inspector on his way, telling the cabbie to file an accident report at an NYPD precinct. Zangrilli instructed the uniform officer to leave the area without instructing her to complete a police accident report, officials said. Zangrilli then called a duty captain and informed them his vehicle was involved in a collision. He instucted Rupple to take off, and told the responding duty captain that he was operating the vehicle at the time of the crash, officials said. Zangrilli offered the cab driver $500 and then $1,000 to avoid an insurance exchange, according to prosecutors. Zangrilli then personally called the owner of the bar and asked him to delete the security video of him and Rupple drinking. The footage was erased but during an investigation the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau was able to recover it. He was arrested on June 12, 2024, and was fired from the NYPD in December following a department trial. Zangrilli pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence, falsifying business records, obstructing governmental administration, official misconduct and operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol. Rupple also pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting; she was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge Zangrilli joined the NYPD in January 2005. He was the commanding officer of the Fifth Precinct in Chinatown when the crash occurred.
