NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton is forcing out the department’s second-highest-ranking official, who once lobbied for his job, sources told The Post on Monday.
First Deputy Commissioner Rafael Piñeiro told staffers Monday that he will be leaving effective Oct. 31, after more than 40 years with the department.
“Bratton asked him to leave,” said one source familiar with the situation, adding that the commissioner had always intended to replace him after taking over nine months ago.
Piñeiro had been a top contender to replace outgoing Commissioner Ray Kelly and lobbied hard for the job.
He even went so far as to arrange a secret meeting in Puerto Rico with then-Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio in November.
After Bratton was appointed by de Blasio, the mayor wanted to still keep Piñeiro around because he’s Hispanic, sources said. But de Blasio recently gave in to Bratton’s push to boot him, sources said.
“[Bratton] had to get the mayor’s approval,” a source said. “Piñeiro and Bratton were getting along, but Bratton is going in a different direction.”
Sources said Chief of Department Phillip Banks III could likely replace Piñeiro.
The Cuban-born Piñeiro would have been the department’s first Hispanic commissioner and was championed by several groups, including the NYPD Hispanic Society.
A police official noted that Hispanic Heritage Month started Monday and fumed, “What a way to start this month, by forcing out the top Hispanic police officer in the city.”
NYPD Hispanic Society president Dennis Gonzalez said, “We are saddened to hear that [Deputy] Commissioner Piñeiro is leaving at the end of October after dedicating 45 years to service. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
The NYPD would only confirm Piñeiro’s retirement.
Additional reporting Daniel Prendergast