Now that’s a jailbreak.
City investigators plan to grill the No. 2 official at the Department of Correction, Larry Davis Sr., over anonymous allegations he took vacations paid for by his subordinates.
An unsigned letter mailed to the Department of Investigation, top jail officials and The Post triggered the inquiry.
“DOI is aware of the allegation, and it’s under review,” said DOI spokeswoman Diane Struzzi.
The letter asserts that the popular 56-year-old chief of department “violated his oath of office by soliciting subordinate staff to pay for his vacations over the past few years.”
The Feb. 1 complaint concluded, “It’s a damn shame that someone in his position extorts subordinate staff to pay his way.”
Davis, who was out of state last week, denied any wrongdoing.
He noted that many of his long-term colleagues are also his friends.
“I have traveled occasionally with some of these colleagues. I have always paid my way,” he said. “I vigorously object to what is being alleged about me, and I intend to provide all information to the appropriate agencies.”
Two veteran jail officials friendly with several officers in the chief’s inner circle said about 10 to 15 staffers would routinely take up a collection for an informal vacation fund. The buddies would use this fund to cover the chief’s airfare, hotel and spending expenses, the two officials said.
The officers hoped to ingratiate themselves with the chief and further their careers, the two officials said.
“He didn’t lay out a penny,” said one of the sources.
The officers would regularly rent out small, all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, the sources said.
The group dubbed itself “The Bad Boys Club,” according to one source.
The city has rules banning supervisors from accepting any gift over $75. Davis earns $194,980 a year in base salary.
Some of the officers on the trips with Davis have been promoted to senior positions or assigned plum posts, sources said, but it was unclear whether the promotions were linked to the alleged vacation fund.
The Department of Correction stressed that the claims against Davis were only allegations and noted that the matter had been turned over to the DOI.