Two More Top NYPD Officials Retire Amid Cloud of Federal Probe: Sources

When public servants are corrupt, that is the worst corruption.

Betsy Combier

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NEW YORK CITY — Two more high-ranking police officials under a federal NYPD corruption probe have filed for retirement, sources told DNAinfo New York.

Deputy Chief Eric Rodriguez and Deputy Chief Andrew Capul handed in their papers, making them the latest high-ranking NYPD supervisors to retire since the scandal broke two months ago.

Last week, Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, Chief David Colon and Deputy Inspector James Grant jumped from the NYPD ship after Police Commissioner Bill Bratton predicted that arrests were likely to stem from the sprawling federal investigation that includes pay-for-favors activities at the NYPD and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s various fundraising practices.

READ MORE: Who’s Who in the Federal NYPD/City Hall Corruption Probe

Rodriguez was the executive officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South when he was reassigned to desk duty as part of the FBI investigation. He had recently been honored by the NYPD’s Desi Society for his community service work.

Capul was the executive officer of the NYPD's Patrol Borough Manhattan North before he was placed on administrative desk duty in April.

He was previously the commanding officer of the 34th Precinct until 2010 when he was reassigned because of rising crime rates. He was also punched in the face during an Eric Garner protest march back in 2014.

Rodriguez served on the NYPD for more than 25 years, while Capul is a veteran with 32 years on the job.

Their retirement will become official if no department charges are brought against them during the next 30 days, which will then protect their pensions even if they are later arrested and convicted of a felony.

"No one has filed for service retirement with administrative charges pending or has been identified by federal investigators as a target of their investigation," Roy Richter, the president of the Captain Endowment Association, pointed out.

Grant, the former commander of the 19th Precinct, has also filed for retirement amid allegations he accepted discounted earrings and a free trip to Las Vegas from two businessmen with close ties to de Blasio and former NYPD Chief of Department Philip Banks.

The two-year federal probe started with a corruption tip involving Banks and eventually snared numerous police officials taking free meals, gifts and even trips from businessmen Jona Rechnitz and Jeremy Reichberg, who were members of de Blasio’s Inauguration Committee.

Two other officers from the NYPD License Division have also been stripped of their guns and badges during the probe for allegedly taking bribes from a Borough Park-based businessman, who was arrested for allegedly arranging gun permits for friends and clients for up to $18,000 each.