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Mayor and NYPD Boss Deny Rift in Wake of High-Profile Resignation

By Trevor Kapp | November 3, 2014 11:05am
 Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton insisted they're on the same page following the abrupt resignation of Chief of Department Philip Banks III.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton insisted they're on the same page following the abrupt resignation of Chief of Department Philip Banks III.
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DNAinfo/Ben Fractenberg

MIDTOWN — Days after the sudden resignation of NYPD Chief of Department Philip Banks III, the mayor and the police commissioner sought to soothe the firestorm.

“I have absolute confidence in Commissioner Bratton and his leadership team,” de Blasio said at a Gracie Mansion press conference Sunday as Bratton stood at his side, according to the New York Daily News.

“We share a vision. He’s the finest police leader in the United States.”

The press conference followed several days of blowback after the resignation of Banks, the department's most high-ranking African-American officer, as well as a statement released by Banks over the weekend hinting that his resignation was spurred by friction with Bratton.

The NYPD announced last week that Banks would be promoted to first deputy commissioner, who advises Bratton — replacing the outgoing Rafael Pineiro.

But in a statement released over the weekend, Banks indicated that he stepped down because he would no longer be given oversight of the department's operations, as sources said the No. 2 job had largely become a figurehead position during former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly's tenure.

"On Friday, I made the difficult decision to leave the NYPD after 28 years. While I recognize that I was a public servant, I am a private person. However, in light of the attention my decision has received and the ongoing inquiries it has generated, I thought it was in everyone’s interest that I make a few points," Banks wrote in a statement released over the weekend.

"I believe it is the right — frankly, the responsibility — of the Commissioner to select whomever he wants to help lead the department and assign responsibilities as he sees fit. In this case, while serving as First Deputy Commissioner would have been an honor, 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.

"While Commissioner Bratton and I both made good-faith efforts to bridge that gap, we were not successful. For that reason, I informed the Commissioner that I could not serve in that role, and he graciously accepted my decision."

“I am at peace with my decision and ready to begin the next chapter," Banks added. "I have every confidence that Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Bratton will continue to build a department which every New Yorker can be proud of.

"While I will no longer be part of that worthy mission, I believe we should all support them. My family and I appreciate everyone’s good wishes, and you are all in our thoughts.”

On Sunday, de Blasio and Bratton publicly insisted they are on the same page, and ripped reports to the contrary, including a New York Post cover story Sunday that suggested first lady Chirlane McCray was fuming after Banks resigned Friday.

De Blasio's wife was said to be a big supporter of Banks, and had initially pushed for him to be commissioner instead of Bratton, sources said.

McCray denied the suggestion on her blog Sunday night.

“They put words into my mouth that I never said... They made it sound like NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton is my sworn enemy, when in fact he has my full support,” she said.

De Blasio and Bratton also took aim at media coverage at their Sunday press conference.

Bratton insisted there was “no tension” between him, the mayor and the first lady, according to the Daily News.

“I have great latitude in running the NYPD, including the selection of its leaders,” he added, according to the News.