Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Off-Duty "Drunk" Yet Heroic Detective Put Back on Duty
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 16, 2008
Modified Jul 16, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 16, 2008
Modified Jul 16, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
An off-duty detective who ended up wounding a man who fired upon him was initially sidelined from the force, for having a blood alcohol level of 0.09, slightly higher than the legal limit for driving. But now Police Commissioner Kelly has praised him as a near hero.
The Post reported that the detective, Ivan Davison had been "placed on modified duty and stripped of his weapon," after the shooting incident. Davison tried to stop a group of men beating a person and one of the attackers, Stephen Allston, had fired at him. So Davison fired back, hitting Alston in the arm and leg.
But this morning Police Commissioner Kelly reversed the decision, saying, "At grave personal risk, Detective Ivan Davison took appropriate and courageous police action to end an imminent threat of death or serious injury to himself and others...As the shooting was investigated, witnesses were located and the facts became known, it became apparent that the shooting was within department guidelines."
However, the Detectives' Endowment Association's Michael Palladino said the initial treatment meant, "When you are off duty, act in a civilian capacity. Get a good description, call 911 and allow the crime to continue." He faulted the NYPD for executing "two warrants on a detective who most likely had saved someone's life." As for Allston, he was charged with attempted murder, and his friend, Rasheem Anderson, was charged with gang assault.
Tagged
nypd
off duty cop
off-duty shooting
police commissioner kelly
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Feds say gang members killed 12-year-old in East Flatbush drive-by, targeting a rival
Kade Lewin was hit in the head and chest, and died in 10 minutes, prosecutors say.
By
Charles Lane
Published Nov 12, 2026 at 2:12 p.m. ET
Developer at Brooklyn collapse site had record of flouting orders from city agency
The owner was issued a violation in April for flouting a stop work order.
By
David Brand
News
Developer at Brooklyn collapse site had record of flouting orders from city agency
The owner was issued a violation in April for flouting a stop work order.
By
David Brand
Homeless New Yorkers’ healthcare costs plummeted after getting housed, study finds
By
Caroline Lewis
Early Addition: Leaf-peepers and booze cruisers unite on the ferry to West Point football games
By
James Ramsay
NYC bill would require food delivery firms to fund fixes to the e-bike 'crisis'
By
Arya Sundaram
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .