Ex-NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton backs George Grasso in Queens DA race in snub of incumbent Katz

Former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton threw his weight behind a retired judge and former high-ranking cop Monday in support of his bid to become the next Queens district attorney.

George Grasso, who retired as Queens Supreme Court administrative judge in 2022 and served as first deputy commissioner in the NYPD before that, is facing off against the incumbent, Queens DA Melinda Katz, in this June’s Democratic primary for the job.

Grasso, who retired before his judicial term expired to run for Queens DA, has been critical of Katz, who he believes hasn’t been nearly aggressive enough when it comes to fighting crime.

“Judge Grasso is one of the sharpest legal minds I have had the opportunity to work with over my law enforcement career,” Bratton said in a statement Monday. “He has highlighted the crime crisis in Queens and has the experience and knowledge to ensure the public safety that New Yorkers deserve.”

Grasso worked extensively with Bratton during the former commissioner’s two stints helming the nation’s largest police force. During Bratton’s first run at the NYPD under former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Grasso helped craft the department’s strategy of focusing on quality-of-life crimes, which included civil enforcement to close down illegal drug dens.

During Bratton’s time under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, Grasso teamed up with him to implement Project Reset, a program that voided the arrests of youthful offenders in exchange for cooperating with district attorneys.

“He knows what must be done in Queens and what must be done to take back our city from violent criminals and recidivists,” Grasso said of Bratton.

“Crime is skyrocketing in Queens,” the challenger added. “Last year was one of the highest rates of increases in Queens that we’ve ever seen.”

Katz’ campaign spokesman Tucker Green responded that the current DA “has earned the endorsement of hundreds of thousands of real New Yorkers because she’s actually done the hard work of taking down gangs, getting guns off the streets and addressing human trafficking.”

Last week, she appeared with Mayor Adams to announce the indictment of nearly two dozen violent gang members. Adams so far has not made an endorsement in the race.

Grasso recalled Monday that he worked alongside Adams, a former NYPD captain, when they both served on the force.

“Eric and I — there were a lot of things we didn’t agree on in those days,” he said. “Occasionally we knocked heads a couple of times. But I respect Eric. I certainly respect everything he’s been able to do with his career since he left the Police Department, and I think right now, he’s saying all the right things, [and] he wants to do the right things.”