Former NYPD inspector pleads guilty in de Blasio security detail probe
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Former NYPD Inspector Howard Redmond pleaded guilty Wednesday to criminal charges stemming from ex-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's misuse of his security detail during his failed presidential bid.
Redmond, the former head of the executive protection unit, was dismissed from the NYPD last month. He was sentenced to a conditional discharge and will be required to fulfill ten days of community service.
He pleaded guilty to two felony counts of tampering with evidence, and multiple counts of obstructing governmental administration and official misconduct.
Redmond admitted to destroying a cell phone that he was supposed to turn over to the city's Department of investigation and apologized for failing to take the DOI probe seriously.
"Inspector Redmond engaged in a clear and brazen pattern of obstruction and tampering throughout the entirety of DOI's investigation," said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. "Position and rank do not exempt anyone from cooperating and participating with a law enforcement investigation, and we will continue to hold accountable any public official who thinks the rules do not apply to them."
The Department of Investigation said Redmond "actively obstructed and sought to thwart" the investigation into de Blasio, which ultimately concluded the former mayor improperly used his security detail during trips he took as part of an ill-fated 2019 presidential campaign.
The assistant district attorney told the judge that Wednesday's plea proves no one is above the law.
As a high ranking NYPD official, many told investigators that Redmond believed he was untouchable, the district attorney's office told the judge.
Redmond will perform 10 days of community service in Manhattan, like other non-violent felons, He received a three-year conditional discharge.
The DOI determined the city expended $319,794 for the members of de Blasio's security detail to travel on the presidential campaign trips. The money was not reimbursed. DOI also found that, during these campaign trips, members of the executive protection unit occasionally transported de Blasio's campaign staff members while driving the mayor.
Both reflect a use of NYPD resources for political purposes, DOI concluded.
The former mayor has been under fire in recent months for his presidential run expenses. In June, he was fined nearly $475,000 by the city's conflicts of interest board, in its largest-ever fine.
At the time of its investigation, DOI concluded de Blasio's son, Dante, used his security detail as a "concierge service" to chauffeur him to and from Yale University.
The investigation also found that the police helped moved de Blasio's daughter, Chiara to Gracie Mansion.
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