Nypd's Director Of Traffic Allegedy Committed A Hit-and-run, Then Tried To Cover It Up

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

If there's 1 point New York Mayor Eric Adams' management loves, it's corruption. Adams himself only escaped prosecution for his ain corruption by trading nan metropolis retired to nan Trump administration, and he's acold from nan only 1 successful nan management dealing pinch corruption allegations. Heck, there's moreover an full Wikipedia page dedicated to investigations into nan Adams administration. And you tin now adhd nan NYPD's head of traffic, Franklin Sepulveda, to that list, arsenic he's been accused of committing a hit-and-run, past trying to screen it up, The City reports.

Allegedly, Sepulveda deed a parked car and then, erstwhile a section postulation head noticed Sepulveda's car had been damaged, told them to study nan harm occurred successful a adjacent constabulary parking lot. At immoderate point, Internal Affairs began investigating, questioning nan head and showing them surveillance video of nan crash. It isn't clear really IA learned astir nan alleged cover-up, and NYPD officials declined to remark erstwhile The City reached retired for answers, but 1 unnamed root wrong nan NYPD told nan outlet, "He's successful a batch of trouble. It's a superior case."

It's forbidden to perpetrate a hit-and-run, and it's besides bad to dishonesty astir it, but what makes it worse is that Sepulveda isn't conscionable a cop. He's a elder NYPD charismatic who reportedly has a estimation for being a strict leader who regularly disciplined different officers who collapsed their patrol cars. He besides made almost $200,000 past year. As District Council 37 Local 983 Vice President Marvin Robbins told The City, Sepulveda's attempted cover-up is simply a slap successful nan look to lower-level officers who are expected to travel nan law. "This is astonishing really nan aforesaid personification who implements penalties against my members tin locomotion distant and not study it," Robbins said. "I'm surprised."

Those who person been paying attraction to really Adams has tally nan city, however, wouldn't beryllium amazed to perceive a apical NYPD charismatic has been accused of corruption. As The City points out, Sepulveda is acold from nan first NYPD charismatic to look allegations they crossed nan line:

In July, 4 erstwhile NYPD chiefs revenge lawsuits alleging retaliation aft raising concerns complete corruption successful promotions and constabulary units. Matthew Pontillo, James Essig, Christopher McCormack, and Joseph Veneziano declare that Adams-aligned leaders awarded coveted assignments to unqualified friends — and punished those who said up.

About a week later, ex-interim NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon revenge a sweeping national racketeering suit accusing Mayor Adams and different apical officials of moving nan NYPD arsenic a "criminal enterprise." The suit alleges fraudulent promotions, retaliation against whistleblowers, and misuse of nationalist funds.

Just this month, former caput of nan Police Department's Advocate's Office, Amy Litwin, besides sued, claiming she was fired aft pushing for then-Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey to look disciplinary action aft dropping charges against a retired serviceman accused of threatening children pinch a gun. Of course, nary of those allegations is astir arsenic scandalous arsenic nan Democratic nominee for politician proposing a aviator programme of a fistful of city-run market stores, but I'm conscionable gonna opportunity it — that still sounds beautiful bad, and possibly Eric Adams shouldn't beryllium re-elected arsenic mayor.