Reporting from New York —
According to an agreement filed in Manhattan federal court on Monday, a police officer from New York City has settled a lawsuit that exposed the practice of using “courtesy cards” to avoid traffic stops and other minor infractions with the city for $175,000.
Police Officer Mathew Bianchi had sued last year, claiming that his supervisors had punished him for not honoring the cards; nevertheless, the settlement does not alter the way the cards are utilized by NYPD officers in any significant way.
Laminated cards that feature a New York Police Department badge and the name of a police union have long been considered a perk of the job, even though the department does not formally acknowledge them.
People who wish to flaunt their ties to the New York Police Department (NYPD) regularly get them acquitted of small offenses like speeding or not wearing a seat belt; the unions that represent the city’s police officers distribute them.
As far as Bianchi is concerned, the politeness cards still don’t cut it. The 40-year-old cop from Staten Island called for further checks and balances on the distribution of the cards and stronger safeguards for individuals who report their abuse.
To quote him, “It’s a form of corruption” was his Tuesday phone announcement. Whatever punishment my boss decides to impose, I will continue to manage them in the same manner. There will be no change; I will continue to do what I believe to be right.
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It was the goal of Bianchi’s attorney, John Scola, that the officer’s actions would encourage other police officers to come out as whistleblowers.
He spoke about how Officer Bianchi showed incredible bravery by going against the NYPD and doing the right thing despite the dangers to his career.
The mayor’s office verified the settlement terms but chose not to further.
“Resolving this case was best for all parties,” stated Nicholas Paolucci, a spokesperson for the legal department, in an email written on Tuesday.
According to Bianchi’s lawsuit from last year, he asserted that cops both active and retired have access to hundreds of cards and share them for discounts on meals or home repair services.
In addition, he asserted that he had been repeatedly warned for issuing citations to police’ loved ones, even after they presented a courtesy card, for ticketing them.
At the end of the day, it all came down to the fact that in the summer of 2022, he had issued a citation to a driver who happened to be friends with Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, the top uniformed officer in theNYPD. The traffic unit of the department demoted Bianchi to night patrol duty, according to Bianchi, who was fired from his position shortly after.
Deferring to inquiries from the legal department, the police department chose not to comment.
When asked for comment via email on Tuesday, the Police Benevolent Association—the biggest police union in the New York City Police Department—did not answer. For a long time, the city’s police unions were under fire over the cards due to the suspicion of corruption and the fact that they were listed for sale on eBay.
According to Bianchi, who spoke on Tuesday, he has since transitioned to a dayside shift, but the litigation has hindered his opportunities for career advancement.
“I’ve applied for just about everything since I’ve been placed back, and they’ve denied me for everything,” he added. “The reason behind it is not hidden from anyone, and I’ve even had supervisors explain it to me.”
However, the officer, who has served for nine years, said he has no regrets about suing.
According to him, he was relieved that he had not taken the punishment and retaliation lying down. I am relieved that I took action.
