New York City’s Department of Probation Commissioner Juanita Holmes violated civil service law when she demoted an assistant commissioner in charge of the Bronx who asked not to have to wear a firearm while on duty, court papers allege.
In one of her earliest acts after moving to the Probation Department from the NYPD in 2023, Holmes ordered all probation officers to carry firearms. The edict caused a stir because many officers felt they didn’t need to be armed to do their jobs.
Dec. 25, 2023: Probation cleans house
New York Daily News Daily News front page for Dec. 25, 2023: Ex-NYPD chief shaking up department, shifts away from “social work” focus.
In March, Assistant Commissioner Lisa D’Ambrosio — technically an administrative probation officer — asked to be exempted from the edict because both of her hands were injured, according to the lawsuit she filed last month..
In May, D’Ambrosio put in for retirement after not getting a response from Holmes. Two days later, she was demoted and her $120,000 salary was slashed 31% to roughly $82,500.
“The lack of dignity and respect from Department leadership has shifted the way I view my 34 years of dedicated civil service and achievements,” D’Ambrosio told The News. “After three decades of service, seeing a culture of hostility overshadow opportunities for community change is disheartening. It reflects a toxic environment that threatens employee morale and public safety.”
D’Ambrosio filed suit in July with another senior probation official, Karen Armstrong, the assistant commissioner in Queens, who alleges Holmes similarly demoted her and slashed her salary by the same 31% after she asked for medical leave to have surgery.
The duo, each of whom served the agency for 34 years, are seeking $10 million in damages.
“We didn’t deserve to be treated like this,” Armstrong told The News. “We served this city with dignity and were treated like we did something wrong.“
Their lawyer Edward Pichardo said the commissioner “seems to be behaving in a very authoritarian manner. She appears to perceive any taking of leave as disloyal. It’s the loss of a wealth of experience and all reeks of retaliation.”
The mayor’s press office and Law Department didn’t respond to request for comment.
In a statement, the Probation Department said it was “unable to comment on pending litigation but remains steadfast in its commitment to cultivating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace.”
The lawsuits come at a time when the department is facing continued staffing challenges. The department has 389 officers and 169 supervising probation officers, roughly 45% fewer probation officers than it did in 2019, Holmes said in May.
The probation officers union President Dalvanie Powell said in a June letter the shortfall forced the agency to sharply reduce officers in Family Court and move them to supervise adults.
“The reduced number of staff has significantly increased the caseload of my members. While public safety is our primary concern, so is the burnout that my dedicated members are feeling,” Powell wrote. “This operational situation is not acceptable.”
According to the lawsuit, Armstrong and D’Ambrosio were also transferred out of the boroughs they have been working in for many years. D’Ambrosio was moved to Queens, while Armstrong was moved to the Bronx.
Armstrong is currently out on medical leave while D’Ambrosio is about to retire, Pichardo said.
