A red-faced Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Thursday he is furious with drunken cops who are humiliating the NYPD — and laid out a plan to keep his officers sober and “fire” the worst offenders, The Post has learned.
“A line in the sand has been drawn,” Bratton told top brass two days after a blind-drunk Bronx cop was busted for allegedly firing 13 shots at a car in Westchester, hitting a man six times, sources said.
That was one of three shootings in just the last week by allegedly drunk officers, which Bratton described as “stupid” and a “problem.”
In an effort to crack down on boozehounds with badges:
- The commissioner vowed to fire cops who use their weapons while intoxicated, and review the patrol guide as it pertains to drinking.
- NYPD brass will now conduct “spot checks” at precincts and in the field to ensure cops aren’t drinking on the job, sources said.
- The inspection teams, known as “shoo flies,” will consist of two captains and an inspector who will randomly drop in on cops — gauging not only their sobriety, but also to enforce the department’s dress code and check officers’ memo books.
- Cops who request to work overtime must now send an e-mail to a supervisor to document why they need to be on the clock after their shift is up.
The NYPD wants to make sure officers aren’t collecting OT while knocking back drinks like one cop who was arrested last week for allegedly driving drunk while taking his partner to a hospital after shooting him in the hand, the sources said.
“Members of the service are required to be fit for duty at all times, except when on sick report,” a NYPD spokesman said, referring to the department’s policy on alcohol consumption.
“They may not consume intoxicants to the extent that they become unfit for duty.”
On Tuesday night, off-duty Officer Brendan Cronin, 27, got blitzed at City Island bars including The Ale House with fellow cops after a day at the firing range.
He then drove out of the city, and allegedly opened fire on a car at a red light in Pelham.
Passenger Joseph Felice was hit six times, but miraculously survived and is in stable condition at Montefiore Hospital.
Cronin then allegedly pointed the gun out the window as cops approached, but eventually followed their orders to drop it.
Hours later, Staten Island Sgt. Wanda Anthony was locked up in Somerset County, NJ, for allegedly drunkenly firing a shot into another vehicle during a domestic dispute, sources said.
Last week, Detective Jay Poggi accidentally shot partner Matthew Sullivan after boozing while pretending to be on an investigation.
Poggi was charged with DWI after driving Sullivan to the hospital.