An anti-crime officer has been suspended for giving a stick of gum and water to accused DWI cop Andrew Kelly soon after he mowed down a minister’s daughter in Brooklyn, police sources said today.
A female sergeant has also been reassigned from night tours to a daytime shift and could face departmental charges for the delay in getting Kelly to a hospital to check his blood-alcohols levels, according to the sources.
A stunning seven hours elapsed between the time Kelly struck Vionique Valnord, 33, and the administration of blood tests. No alcohol was found in his system.
All of the NYPD supervisors involved in the case are being re-interviewed by officials in the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau, who are trying to determine whether there was a cover-up.
The anti-crime officer was suspended late Wednesday night.
Kelly, 30, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and DWI.
At an appearance in Criminal Court in Brooklyn this morning, Kelly’s lawyer Arthur Aidala handed a prosecutor a sympathy card from the cop to give to give to Valnord’s family.
“It’s very frustrating that he can’t express personally his condolences,” Aidala said outside of court. “He’s the father of two little girls. He told me last night he cannot imagine what they’re going through.”
“He’s devastated someone’s not with us anymore. He appreciates that,”
Aidala said. “That’s where his heart is.”
Kelly was off-duty and driving a Jeep containing three buddies when he mowed down Valnord in the middle of Avenue N in Flatlands, Brooklyn early Sunday. She was pronounced dead later that morning.
Kelly reeked of booze at the scene and had slurred speech and glassy eyes, prosecutors said. He has admitted to downing several beers that night.
Cops in the 63rd Precinct plied Kelly with gum and water after the incident.
Aidala today said the blood test speaks for itself.
Prosecutors Judge Suzanne Mondo that they plan to present the case against Kelly to a grand jury next week.