A former NYPD assistant inspector, Paul Zanliri, managed to dodge prison time after admitting to taking his girlfriend on a reckless joyride, resulting in a crash with a taxi.
Zanliri pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and received a three-year conditional discharge, alongside a $750 fine and a 90-day license suspension.
Sitting next to his ex-girlfriend Nicole Rapple in Manhattan Criminal Court, he smiled as they awaited the judgment for their drunken escapade in 2022.
On that fateful day, after consuming 10 beers and 12 shots over three hours at a whiskey bar near Penn Station, Zanliri got behind the wheel of a NYPD cruiser around 5:40 PM on August 15, 2022.
As Ada Samantha Dworkin informed the court, Zanliri was allowed to use unmarked police vehicles for official purposes that day.
Following the crash that damaged both vehicles, they fled the scene without providing details, the court heard.
Afterward, Zanliri took the driver’s seat and drove away, but the taxi driver managed to catch up, alerting a marked police car to their actions.
While trying to evade the consequences, he attempted to persuade someone to delete surveillance footage of the incident, highlighting a desperate effort to cover their tracks.
“They almost got away with that,” Dworkin remarked.
When the taxi driver later sued the city for $75,000, Rapple’s identity remained unknown, leaving taxpayers to shoulder the costs, Dworkin pointed out.
Fearing repercussions, some lower-ranking officers were hesitant to testify against Zanliri, according to Dworkin.
Despite avoiding prison, Zanliri lost his position and pension with the NYPD.
Rapple, who reportedly remains with Zanliri, was visibly shaken as she received a one-year conditional discharge, along with requirements for an ignition interlock device in her vehicle.
Additionally, she must complete a program for disabled drivers, and her license suspension will last six months.
Zanliri, who had served in law enforcement for almost 20 years, expressed regret during the proceedings.
“I believe the punishment is excessive. It’s unfortunate,” said his lawyer, Eric Franz. “He contributed a lot to this community and made a mistake that should be acknowledged.”
Franz added that Zanliri has “lost everything.”
Rapple, dressed in black, stated through her attorney that she aims to move forward with her life.
Apologizing to the court and the citizens of New York, Zanliri conveyed his remorse, acknowledging that losing his career was incredibly challenging for him.
Following the ruling, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office issued a statement emphasizing that law enforcement officials, particularly those in leadership roles, must adhere to the laws they’re responsible for enforcing.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg noted that Zanliri had misused his authority, and those who abuse their power will face appropriate consequences.
