NYPD Commissioner Shea answers City Council member’s public rebuke by saying he’d fire any cop who spoke in same way

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea pushed back at a City Council committee chairman’s public rebuke over department spending Tuesday by saying he’d fire any cop who criticized a member of the community in such a way.

During an online hearing, City Councilman Daniel Dromm lamented that by the time the current fiscal year ends on June 30, the NYPD will have spent up to $100 million more than the roughly $278 million it was allocated for overtime.

“Your job is to stick to your budget,” Dromm (D-Queens), chairman of the Finance Committee, reminded Shea. “What are you going to do this time around to stick to your budget? You agree to the budget. You blew it.

“Are you going to blow it again?”

Shea responded sharply.

“Let me just say, Council member: if my officers spoke to the public this way I would fire them,” the commissioner said.

“I think it’s completely disrespectful to have a showmanship. Let’s have an honest conversation and a back-and-forth where we can actually accomplish something, rather than what you’re trying to do.

“The people of New York City deserve better.”

“Commissioner,” Dromm said, “I find it hard to believe a lot of what you say.”

The NYPD often spends beyond its overtime limit, often because of unforeseen circumstances, in this case months of George Floyd protests,

But Dromm, citing a report by the Department of Investigation criticizing how police handled themselves, suggested there should be fewer cops at protests.

“Last year’s protests and the response by the NYPD was a disaster — all of the beatings and the DOI investigation showed us that we may not need as many police at these situations,” he said.

“I think there’s a major disconnect here,” said Dromm. “And when you talk about safety I think that you have to have the public’s attitude [in mind] as well.

“I don’t often feel safe oftentimes around police officers because of what I see.”

Shea called Dromm’s descriptions of beatings “factually incorrect.”

Dromm suggested Shea was playing fast and loose with the facts.

“I saw what we saw on TV,” Dromm said. “I saw people being pushed to the ground. I saw people’s heads being cracked open, so please don’t deny that. That’s what we saw. And you’re under oath.

“You are under oath so please answer questions honestly.”

Shea — echoing comments he often makes before the Council — said that even though New Yorkers aren’t shy about complaining to him, he also hears positive feedback.

“Your opinion, which I respect, is not the majority opinion I hear across various neighborhoods across New York City,” the commissioner told Dromm.