NYPD: Edward Mullins, ex-sergeants union chief, found guilty in departmental trial

Former Sergeants Benevolent Association president Edward Mullins has been found guilty of administrative charges that he used foul language against two public officials and disclosed arrest information about Mayor Bill de Blasio’s daughter, NYPD officials said Friday.

As a result, he has been docked 70 vacation days or about $31,000, department officials said.

Mullins, who resigned from his long-standing union position last month after the FBI raided his offices as well as his home in Port Washington, also resigned from the NYPD on Oct. 6 with an effective date of Friday — the day the guilty findings were disclosed.

The NYPD fast-tracked an administrative trial late last month on the disciplinary charges.

After the trial, Mullins was found guilty of making public arrest information about de Blasio’s daughter, Chiara, after she was taken into custody during a demonstration over the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd at the hands of police. He was also found guilty of using profane language about former New York City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot and former city Councilman Ritchie Torres.

Mullins was hit with a loss of 30 vacation days for the de Blasio matter and 40 vacation days for the issues involving Barbot and Torres. The total penalty for a sergeant with Mullins' over 40 years of service comes to about $31,000, police officials said. The officials noted that since Mullins had over 20 years of service, it was impossible to prevent him from getting his pension, which some estimate could be close to $120,000 a year. FBI officials have acknowledged their investigation of Mullins but have provided no details.

"No member of the New York City Police Department, regardless of any other status, may violate the rules of the department and engage in conduct unbecoming a police officer," NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a statement Friday. "Regardless of one’s position as a union leader, as long as they are still a police officer, they will be held to the laws, regulations, and standards of conduct required of all members of the service. Simply speaking: this behavior was unacceptable."

The Civilian Complaint Review Board, which tried the case before Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Adler and who recommended the penalties, had wanted Mullins fired for his conduct.

According to NYPD officials, the maximum for the disclosure of arrest information about the mayor's daughter was 30 days under the new disciplinary matrix.

The 40-day vacation pay penalty for the two profanity offenses was at midrange, according to the disciplinary matrix, with a low-end of 10 days and a high-end of termination, officials noted.

Under procedural rules, Mullins could appeal the decision. Neither Mullins nor his attorney Hugo Ortega immediately responded to requests for comment Friday.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.