ESU Taser Lieutenant Takes His Own Life; 'Compounds the Tragedy'

The Lieutenant who ordered a Police Officer to use a Taser on a mentally ill man perched on an awning — who then plummeted 10 feet to his death — committed suicide Oct. 2 after he was stripped of his gun and badge for not following police guidelines.

MICHAEL PIGOTT

Lieut. Michael W. Pigott killed himself about 6 a.m. at Emergency Services Unit headquarters at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. He left a suicide note that reportedly stated that he couldn't bear the prospect of his children seeing him arrested or jailed in connection with the Taser death.

Mayor Bloomberg spoke about Lieutenant Pigott's death at the start of his re-election press conference a few hours later. "The Lieutenant was deeply distraught and extremely remorseful over the death of Iman Morales in Brooklyn last week," he said. "Sadly, his death just compounds the tragedy of the loss of Mr. Morales. Lieutenant Pigott leaves behind three children, a loving wife, and an admirable career in the NYPD. He served the department and the citizens of New York for more than 20 years, and our prayers and sympathies go out to Lieutenant Pigott's family and friends during this difficult time."

Upset by NYPD's Treatment

Lieutenants Benevolent Association President Thomas R. Sullivan said Mr. Pigott was distraught not only about the death of Mr. Morales but how the NYPD handled him. "He was upset that the department reacted so quickly to discipline him without even speaking to him," he said. "Just based on damaging video, the department jumped to conclusions, and this made him very upset." He also said the NYPD sanctions "contributed to the deterioration of his mental state."

The Lieutenant went to the NYPD Psychiatric Services Unit on Sept. 29 and was said to have appeared okay. "He seemed to have everything under control," said Mr. Sullivan who saw Lieutenant Pigott after the Taser incident. The union president was stunned by the suicide.

Mr. Pigott was promoted earlier this year to Lieutenant Special Assignment and had earned more than 20 medals in his 21 years with the department. "He was a by-the-book 100-percent type of guy," said Mr. Sullivan.

On Sept. 24, Lieutenant Pigott and the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit responded to a report of an emotionally disturbed person at 489 Tompkins Ave. in Brooklyn. In an effort to evade police, Mr. Morales, who was holding an eight-foot-long fluorescent light tube, fled out the window of his third-floor apartment to the fire escape and then down to an awning. He jabbed at an ESU officer, who was on the second-floor fire escape, with the light tube, according to police.

Lieutenant Pigott directed Police Officer Nicholas Marchesona to fire the Taser at the man, police said. Mr. Morales fell abruptly from the awning to the sidewalk, striking his head on the pavement. He was pronounced dead at King County Hospital.

Police said as the scene was unfolding officers radioed for an inflatable bag, but it did not arrive in time. "None of the ESU officers on the scene were positioned to break his fall, nor did they devise a plan in advance to do so," said Paul J. Browne, the NYPD's chief spokesman.

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly disciplined both officers after the incident. "The order to employ the Taser under these circumstances appears to have violated guidelines, re-issued June 4, 2008, which specifically state that 'when possible, the CED [or Taser] should not be used ... in situations where the subject may fall from an elevated surface,''' said Mr. Browne in a statement. The Lieutenant was placed on modified duty, while the Police Officer was assigned to administrative duty and kept his gun and badge.

Mr. Sullivan criticized Mr. Browne's interpretation of the guidelines. "That 'when possible' leaves the door open to judgment, but the department jumped to conclusions and disciplined him without even talking to him," the LBA leader said.

Two days after the incident, Mr. Kelly named Deputy Chief James Molloy as the Commanding Officer of the ESU, replacing Deputy Inspector Robert Lukach. On Sept. 29, all 440 ESU personnel received refresher training focused on response to calls for emotionally disturbed persons, including equipment and tactical scenarios for inside locations and outside elevated locations. ESU officers were also directed by Commissioner Kelly to review the Patrol Guide, interim orders and laws pertaining to the mentally ill.