Discipinary charges filed against employee for off-duty misconduct
Cannata v Safir, 269 AD2d 327
The Appellate Division, First Department did not have any difficulty in sustaining the decision of the Police Commissioner to dismiss New York City police officer Michael Cannata based on his finding that Cannata, while off-duty had:
1. Refused to move his illegally parked car when asked to do so by a Yonkers police officer;
2. Acted in a rude and aggressive manner, making racial remarks about the police officer; and
3. Lied about his conduct during the departmental investigation and disciplinary hearing.
Commenting that the commissioner’s determination was supported by substantial evidence, including the testimony of numerous Yonkers police officers, the Appellate Division said that there was no basis to disturb the commissioner’s credibility determinations.
Under the circumstances, the court said that "the penalty of dismissal does not shock our sense of fairness."
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