The top uniformed officer in the city Department of Correction has been forced out after a number of missteps that placed him under increasing scrutiny, sources told The Post last night.
The final straw came for Larry Davis Sr., a 31-year veteran of the DOC and the department’s second-in-command Thursday, when an officer was spotted driving home in a department car, the sources said.
That officer, Dale Reyes, was suspended Friday and Davis, who oversaw 8,500 guards as chief of department, was told to resign, according to the sources.
The department is investigating whether Davis authorized Reyes to use the vehicle, the sources said.
But Reyes told The Post, “I was driving a car, but that had nothing to do with Chief Davis, I can tell you that. He’s not my immediate supervisor.”
It wasn’t Davis’ first brush with scandal since becoming chief in December 2009.
As The Post reported in February, the Department of Investigation began looking into allegations that Davis took vacations that were paid for by his subordinates.
About 10 to 15 guards, who dubbed themselves The Bad Boys Club, repeatedly took up a collection to fund Davis’ airfare, hotel and spending expenses in a bid to gain favor with the powerful official, the sources said.
Davis allegedly went to the Puerto Plata resort in the Dominican Republican without paying a penny.
A source told The Post last night the vacation scandal played a part in the decision to oust Davis.
But there were other gaffes, as well, the source said.
In addition, Davis had fallen victim to a ruthless game of office politics, another source added.
“In the scheme of things, when they want someone out, they want someone out,” the source said.
“That’s what it is, people get hungry and they want a position. Some of these guys want to push the next guy out so they can take the seat before” the Bloomberg administration ends in 2013, this source added.
The DOC promoted Michael Hourihane, 52, a 30-year veteran who previously served as deputy chief of department, to succeed Davis.
“I know that Chief Hourihane will serve the department and the city with excellence,” Commissioner Dora Schriro said in a statement.
“He is a highly experienced correction professional with deep experience of this department and the commitment and integrity that is essential to carrying out this critical position with distinction.”
Calls to Davis were not returned last night.