DEA Tackles Unfair Choice

The Detectives Endowment Association has filed an improper practice complaint over the way that NYPD Chief of Internal Affairs Charles Campisi allegedly tried to coerce a cop involved in a shooting to leave a hospital where he was being treated in order to take a Breathalyzer test.

The case wound up with a happy ending for the Detective involved, Ivan Davison: after media coverage made clear that he was justified in firing his weapon when he confronted a man brutally assaulting someone and the man responded by firing his own automatic weapon, he was hailed a hero and reinstated to full duty.

But the circumstances alleged by the DEA raise troubling questions. It claims that Chief Campisi threatened Detective Davison with suspension if he refused to leave the hospital to go for the Breathalyzer, even though his blood pressure had not yet been stabilized.

Cops should not be placed in a position of jeopardizing their health out of fear that there will be job consequences. We would hope the Board of Collective Bargaining, which is hearing the complaint, will make clear that they don't have to do so.