More than three dozen local elected officials are calling on Mayor Adams to discipline NYPD Chief John Chell over “illegal” and “dangerous” social media attacks that the police honcho has leveled against lawmakers, journalists and others in recent months.
In a Friday letter to Adams exclusively obtained by the Daily News, the group of 39 Democratic politicians, led by City Comptroller Brad Lander, wrote that Chell’s online screeds violate a provision in city conflict of interest law that prohibits police officials from using government resources, including social media accounts, for political purposes.
Jeff Bachner for New York Daily News
NYC Comptroller Brad Lander. (Jeff Bachner for New York Daily News)
The group — which comprises Queens-Bronx Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Westchester County-Bronx Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, 17 Council members and 17 state lawmakers — pointed in particular to a since-deleted post Chell thumbed out Wednesday that claimed Queens Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán “hates our city” and urged his followers to start “getting involved” if they dislike her policies.
“Chief Chell’s bombastic and bullying rhetoric is not only a violation of democratic principles, and the NYC Conflict of Interest Law, it is also dangerous,” the elected officials wrote to Adams. “He is jeopardizing the safety of Councilmember Cabán and her staff. This is unacceptable behavior from a public safety leader of our city.”
The group told Adams that Cabán isn’t the only target of Chell’s activity.
“Chell’s attack on Councilmember Cabán is part of a pattern of bullying, including attacks on reporters Harry Siegel, Errol Louis and Graham Rayman,” the letter continues, referring to how Chell has in recent weeks used his official department X account to name-call and lambast reporters and columnists at The News and NY1. “While Chell, as an individual, of course has the right to free speech, using his official NYPD account to bully reporters and elected officials reveals contempt for basic democratic principles.” (Siegel writes a column in the News; Rayman is a News staffer.)
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Queens Councilmember Tiffany Cabán. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The politicians capped off their letter to the mayor: “We expect him to be disciplined and instructions delivered to NYPD officials that such behavior will not be tolerated.”
Spokespeople for Adams and the NYPD didn’t immediately return requests for comment Friday, though the mayor has defended Chell amid ongoing debate over this issue.
The letter didn’t specify what type of reprimand Chell should face, but Cabán offered a suggestion in a text to The News:
“He should be fired today.”
The group behind Friday’s letter is primarily made up of left-wing politicians like Cabán, but also includes more moderate-minded Democrats, including Brooklyn Assemblyman Robert Carroll.
“We are all united in the basic democratic principle that law enforcement officials work for democratically elected officials, and must not engage in threatening, bullying, or menacing behavior of this sort,” they wrote.
Though addressed to the mayor, the letter was also sent to NYPD Commissioner Ed Caban, Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix and the city Conflicts of Interest Board, which enforces local ethics laws.
Cabán, a democratic socialist, has been on the receiving end of Chell’s online rants before. In March, he wrote from his official account that her policies are “hurting everyday NYers in our city,” and urged his followers: “If you want change, vote the change you seek.”
His latest Cabán missive about her “hating our city” was deleted Thursday morning, as first reported by The News.
The NYPD press office later said an aide to Chell took down the post by mistake, and Chell reposted the same message late Thursday night, but started it off with: “Like I said it was an accident….I’m back!!!!”
Barry Williams for New York Daily News
Members of the NYPD clear a pro-Palestinian encampment at Fordham University on Wednesday. (Barry Williams for New York Daily News)
The push for reprimanding Chell comes as he and other top NYPD officials, including Deputy Commissioner for Operations Kaz Daughtry and Deputy Commissioner for Public Information Tarik Sheppard, are engaged in a concerted PR effort to boost their public image and push back against people who have voiced criticism of the Police Department and the mayor.
When Chell and other police officials have faced criticism for their social media activity before, the mayor has defended them.
That includes this past Tuesday, when he was asked if he thought it was appropriate for Chell to call on Columbia and City College to expel “entitled” and “hateful” students engaged in protesting against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
“Chief Chell is a professional,” the mayor replied.
