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Top World Trade Center Cop Accused Of Racism, Pushing Quotas
By
Ben Yakas
Published Sep 1, 2011
Modified Sep 1, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Sep 1, 2011
Modified Sep 1, 2011
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The current commanding officer at the World Trade Center has been accused by a fellow police sergeant of pressuring Bronx cops to make ticket quotas, and of routinely using racist language. In his lawsuit, Sgt. Christopher Groben has also accused Inspector Donald McHugh of ordering him to give negative performance evaluations to two "well-regarded" black sergeants when he was commander of the 41st Precinct in the Bronx between October 2008 and September 2010.
McHugh was transferred to the NYPD's counterterrorism unit last fall, and was appointed head of the new World Trade Center command by NYPD Chief Ray Kelly in January. Groben says he was demoted from lieutenant to sergeant after he refused to carry out McHugh's orders, and has since been stuck as a Bronx housing cop. "He was really a kid on the move, but he's been cut off at the knees because he wouldn't acquiesce to this man's illegal orders," said Groben's lawyer Linda Cronin.
The NYPD counters Groben's accusations, saying he has "an extensive disciplinary background," was diagnosed with alcoholism in 2008, and was arrested for beating up his ex-girlfriend in December. However, two unidentified cops corroborated McHugh's story to the News: "He wanted those [summons] numbers to keep going up, no matter what. It didn't matter if you had a reason to make a stop or not," said one officer who worked in the 41st precinct.
Tagged
cop
lawsuit
nypd
port authority
quotas
racism
world trade center
wtc
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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