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NYPD records show 2 officers fired over racist chat and swastika patrol-car photo
By
Charles Lane
Published Jun 16, 2026
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By
Charles Lane
Published Jun 16, 2026
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Two NYPD officers have been fired after participating in a monthslong group chat that included racist messages, monkey emojis, jokes about people from India "riding camels," and a photo of a police car defaced with a swastika and the words "[N-word] Patrol," according to NYPD disciplinary records.
A third officer who participated in the chat retired before charges were filed. All three officers were assigned to the overnight tour in Chelsea's 10th Precinct. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch — who has final say over all police discipline — overruled a departmental judge, who had recommended that one of the officers receive a lesser penalty.
One of the fired officers is now suing Tisch and the city, arguing that he was targeted by some of the chat's racist messages and was fired after reporting the group chat to investigators.
“This commissioner is a lot more rigid in applying discipline than prior commissioners have been," said Peter Brill, the attorney representing Officer MD Alam, the Bangladeshi officer fired despite the judge's recommendation. “Given the nature of the language, she wanted to send a message."
The other fired officer, Vincent Cavitolo, was found guilty of five disciplinary charges, including making racist gestures, mocking fellow officers' accents and creating a hostile work environment.
Officer Sean O'Riordan, the third member of the chat, was identified by the trial judge as "the driving force behind much of the troubling behavior." Disciplinary records show O'Riordan posted an image of a patrol car defaced with a swastika and the words "[N-word] Patrol." The records also show he sent monkey emojis into the chat and describe other messages mocking people from India.
O'Riordan retired from the NYPD before he could be fired.
Cavitolo's attorney did not return messages seeking comment. O'Riordan could not be reached for comment.
The departmental judge's decision describes two confrontations connected to tensions among officers involved in the case: a 2023 shoving incident outside the stationhouse and a July 2024 sidewalk confrontation that ended with Cavitolo making monkey gestures toward a Black colleague.
After a three-day trial, Assistant Deputy Commissioner Jeff Adler recommended termination for Cavitolo and a lesser penalty for Alam, who was found guilty on a single charge involving disparaging text messages in the group chat.
Adler wrote that firing Alam “is not warranted" and instead recommended the loss of 30 suspension days, 30 vacation days and a year of dismissal probation.
Tisch rejected that recommendation in a four-paragraph memorandum signed April 9. She wrote that Alam's text messages "cannot be minimized or excused" and cited what she described as a "lack of accountability and remorse."
Tisch concluded that termination was warranted despite the judge's recommendation.
The chat surfaced on July 23, 2024, after Alam showed another officer messages from the group chat, including a monkey emoji. The officer then filed a discrimination complaint that helped trigger the investigation.
Alam voluntarily turned over his phone and investigators discovered racist messages he had also sent. He filed a separate civil lawsuit against the city last August.
"Tisch's decision is deeply flawed and ignores the undisputed fact that Officer Alam came forward and exposed the very misconduct that became the subject of this investigation," said his civil attorney, John Scola.
Representatives for the NYPD did not comment on Alam's lawsuit.
Tagged
new york city
public safety
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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