Abandon ship!
A Queens couple was forced to make a desperate leap into Jamaica Bay moments before a powerful 600-horsepower NYPD Harbor Patrol boat rammed into their tiny fishing dinghy.
Now, Mary Ann and John Higgins are planning to file a lawsuit — and demanding that the officers involved be demoted.
“Both those cops should be off the water,” Mary Ann railed against Sgt. Kevin Keenan and his navigator, Timothy Gilsenan.
A police spokesman said the cops have been “grounded until an accident- review panel is convened.”
They could face disciplinary action if the review board finds them at fault.
The blunder on the bay occurred Aug. 20 around 12:45 p.m. as Higgins, 61, and her husband John, 64, were enjoying a crystal-clear day on calm waters and the police boat suddenly appeared on the horizon and came barreling straight toward them.
“The boat kept coming at us, getting closer and closer. And my wife screamed out, ‘They’re gonna hit us!’ ” John Higgins said.
Mary Ann Higgins said she had no choice but to jump into the drink.
“I just cannon-balled myself off the boat. I just made it off,” she said.
Her husband also took the plunge.
Seconds later, the 30-foot NYPD vessel crashed into the starboard bow of the Higgins’ 16-foot fishing skiff, which is equipped with a modest 30-horsepower outboard motor. The officers then pulled the couple from the water.
Higgins alleges that the two cops were distracted by their cellphones at the time of the crash.
“I’m convinced they were on their cellphones,” he charged. “On the way in, [Gilsenan] texted the whole time, and the sergeant took a call as soon as we got on the boat.”
Keenan admitted that he had slammed into the Higgins’ boat while turning his head “to look at the rear of the vessel to ensure his wake was reduced,” according to the accident report.
The couple, who weren’t injured, have filed a notice with the city that they intend to sue, said their pro-bono lawyer, Keith Sullivan.
“It is unfortunate. Clearly, the officer did not intend for it to happen, but now the city needs to step up and reimburse Mr. Higgins for [his losses],” Sullivan said.
The Higgins’ boat incurred $2,150 in damages, including a giant gash in the craft’s front hull.