- The New York City police chief is facing criticism from a state court after he misled a judge in a social media post accusing him of releasing a “predator” into the city.
- Sergeant John Chell posted from the NYPD’s official account criticizing state Supreme Court justices for releasing repeat offenders into the community.
- The court found that the NYPD had gotten several facts wrong, including the identity of the judge and the location of the alleged crime.
Multiple New York City police chiefs face criticism from the state’s court system after misjudged a judge in a controversial social media post accusing the judge of releasing a “predator” onto the city’s streets are doing.
The episode became an unusually public dispute between court officials and the city’s police leaders, who rarely go after sitting judges by name.
New York City Police Department Sergeant John Chell, in a post sent from his official I didn’t,” he wrote. within the city’s transportation system.
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“She has released a predator into the community who may be on the next train or walking the streets of our city looking for her next victim,” he continued.
NYPD Sergeant John Chell is seen during a briefing before a raid in Brooklyn, New York. In a post sent from X’s official account on February 27, 2024, Chell named a judge who ordered the release of a man who police say is a repeat offender on city transit. At the time, he wrote, “I didn’t do any work.” system. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
The letter was shared by three senior NYPD officials and garnered hundreds of thousands of views and some angry comments directed at the judge. Some posters circulated photos of New York judges with the same last name.
On Thursday night, state court system spokesman Al Baker said the department misunderstood several facts about the case.
“Recent social media posts by NYPD officers criticizing recent bail decisions not only indicate that the crime was allegedly committed in the wrong county, but also indicate that the judge who is not presiding over the case… We’re also naming names,” Baker said.
The NYPD’s Office of Media Relations did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night.
The NYPD has taken a more aggressive approach on social media in recent months, slamming those seen as soft on crime and those who unfairly criticize the department.
Ahead of the court’s statement, NYPD Chief Spokesman Tariq Shepard said he “fully supports” the judge’s conviction, adding that the practice will continue.
“Judges play an important role and if one of us is not doing our job, we should be transparent about that,” he said. “It’s very intentional.”
Stephen Zeidman, director of the New York State Law School’s Criminal Defense Clinic, said the posts cross a line and put judges at risk.
“The NYPD seems to think they have the right to post opinions and reactions to judicial decisions, but the danger this incompetence represents across the board is why it’s such a bad, dangerous idea.” “This proves that,” he said.
According to a criminal complaint, police arrested the man named in Chell’s post on February 23rd and accused him of jumping into a subway ticket gate without paying and being in possession of drugs and a stolen iPhone. was arrested.
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Bronx prosecutors asked him to be held on $10,000 bail. But the actual judge presiding over the case, Judge Michele Davila, agreed with the defense team that the man was not a flight risk and released him. Although he has been arrested several times in the past, he has not missed a court appearance since 2007, Davila noted.
New York state law generally requires judges to base bail decisions on a criminal defendant’s likelihood of returning to court.
The message Chell shared also included a photo of the man’s face, despite a New York state law that prohibits the sharing of these images in most circumstances. An NYPD spokesperson said the department has the authority to share mugshots for public safety purposes.
Earlier Thursday, before the post was revealed to be a misidentification of the judge, City Hall spokesman Charles Rutbach defended the police chief’s comments about the judge in a statement to Gothamist.
“When misinformation spreads on social media, the NYPD counters with facts,” he said.
