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Bratton Says Role That Banks Rejected Was More Politics Than Policing

By Trevor Kapp | November 3, 2014 3:31pm
 NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said Monday that the position Philip Banks III resigned over largely centers on outreach to City Hall and various unions.
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said Monday that the position Philip Banks III resigned over largely centers on outreach to City Hall and various unions.
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DNAinfo/Mathew Katz

ONE POLICE PLAZA — The promotion offered to the NYPD's Chief of Department Philip Banks III would have put him into a political role that largely involves outreach, commissioner Bill Bratton said Monday.

Banks shocked Bratton and the rest of the department when he abruptly resigned Friday, just days after being tapped to move up from chief of department to first deputy commissioner.

Banks issued a statement over the weekend saying he had wanted his new role to be more involved in police operations but was unable to reach an agreement with Bratton.

“The first (deputy commissioner’s) job under any commissioner is usually one that involves a lot of inward focus to deal with the fraternal groups, the unions, the disciplinary process and then, depending on the commissioner, the external,” Bratton told reporters on Monday, following a promotions ceremony.

“In my case, the first deputy is going to be very externally involved dealing with City Hall, dealing with the oversight, dealing with a lot of the politics.”

In a statement released over the weekend, Banks, 50, said, "I felt that the position would take me away from where I could make the greatest contribution: the police work and operations that I love so much."

Banks informed those close to him that he’d met with Bratton last week and was told the commissioner planned to beef up the role of first deputy commissioner, including oversight of the chief of department’s office, sources said.

But when he was told Friday morning that would not be the case, he chose to step down, sources said.

Bratton said Monday he had no regrets about the events leading to Banks’ resignation.

“He felt the position was not for him and, again, that’s his choice. We’re now moving on and we’re certainly wishing him well,” Bratton said, adding that he entrusted new Chief of Department, James O’Neill, who previously served as chief of patrol, with the position.

"I was comfortable with Jim's ability to handle" the demands of the office, Bratton added.

Bratton said he will name his new first deputy commissioner on Wednesday.

Banks' abrupt departure sparked a firestorm of criticism from elected officials and minority leaders.

“The fact that just ten months into this administration, the top uniformed police officer believed that he had to resign is deeply troubling,” Public Advocate Letitia James said in a statement.

Retired NYPD sergeant Anthony Miranda, the head of the Latino Officers Association of America, said Banks’ departure means minority voices within the department may not be as loudly voiced.

“This is the worst time to be without minority representation considering the relationship that needs to be worked on between the NYPD and communities of color," Miranda said. "We are going back to a police department dominated by all white males."

But Bratton said he has met with minority communities since Banks’ departure and insists everyone will be represented.

“I’ve had a number of discussions with a number of leaders from that community, political and otherwise,” he said. “We’ll seek to, as I’ve been doing for the last ten months, continue to reach out to them.”