Crime & Safety

Lhota Blasts Proposal for NYPD Inspector General

Republican mayoral candidate joins Bloomberg and Kelly in his criticism of NYPD watchdog plan.

Republican mayoral candidate Joseph Lhota has called on City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to drop her support for the creation of an inspector general position to oversee the City’s Police Department, 1010 Wins reported.

Quinn, who is also running for mayor, recently said there was “broad support” among Council members for the position, which would act as a watchdog for the NYPD.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly both blasted the proposal, arguing that it could result in the city being less safe.

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Lhota, who was the former chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, said he believed an inspector general for the NYPD was a bad idea.

“It allows the inspector general to make decisions that, I think, would countermand or put into question what the police commissioner should in his soul or her soul have the right to do,” Lhota told NY 1. “The New York City Police Department has more oversight than any other police department in the United States of American and this level of bureaucracy is unnecessary.”

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Quinn has said the Council would vote on the bill in upcoming weeks. Bloomberg said he would veto the measure.


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