This was the photobomb that caused top NYPD officers to explode.
A photo posted online shows the moment interim NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon was blocked from a photo op at the New York City Marathon — sparking controversy heated argument in public According to sources, between him and the department’s Chief of Staff Tariq Shepard.
A photo taken Sunday of a group shot of the NYPD Running Club at the start of the marathon on Staten Island shows Donlon’s frightened face between the shoulders of Shepard and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry. and shared on x By a top police officer.
Sources said Shepard forced her way into the photo, pushing the interim top cop into the background.
Sources said the commissioner asked Shepard to get out and potentially pushed him in the arm.
The defacement of the alleged photo led to a shouting match between Donlon and Shepard, which sources said led NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey to physically separate.
Mayor Eric Adams downplayed the public feud – which unfolded in front of a marathon audience – as akin to a fight between a married couple.
“Just because you have a fight with your spouse, your child, your business partner, it doesn’t mean you don’t love them,” he said during his weekly off-topic news conference on Monday.
“If that’s a sign that you don’t care about the other person in your life, then we’re all in trouble.”
But sources said there has been no romance between Donlon and his newly appointed chief of staff Shepard, who has a history of fiery moments.
An NYPD vet argued that the mayor quietly promoted Shepard to acting chief of staff despite the interim commissioner’s objections.
“The mayor completely created this chaotic situation,” a former NYPD supervisor with more than 40 years of experience claimed Monday.
“This is the most disrespectful act towards a police commissioner that I have ever seen. The mayor, who calls himself a former cop, should be ashamed of himself for allowing this to happen to the NYPD. It’s clear the mayor has investigated and is more concerned about staying out of jail.
Adams said he later spoke to both Donlon and Shepard about their expectations for how “decoration” should appear, but he declined to elaborate on the conversation.
He also said that Donlon might reprimand Shepard if he felt he had done something wrong – a claim the NYPD vet deemed unrealistic, as Adams had set up Shepard.
The animosity stemmed from changes in the NYPD after federal agents raided the home of former Commissioner Edward Caban in September, leading to his resignation.
Adams appointed Donlon, A respected former FBI officer as interim commissioner – A decision that upset many top NYPD officers, including Maddrey and Shepard, who were given considerable free rein under Caban, sources said.
After the stopgap top cop made law During an initial meeting, disgruntled officials launched a behind-the-scenes pressure campaign that led to the dismissal of Donlon’s executive team, including his former chief of staff, sources said.
Amid the chaos, Shepard moved from deputy commissioner of public affairs to acting chief of staff — a move that raised eyebrows within the NYPD, as many police officers learned about it only from social media, sources said.
Multiple sources said Donlon has since relied on Maddrey, Shepard and other affiliated officers to run the NYPD because he is not familiar with the day-to-day running of the department.
And Donlon can’t get rid of any troublesome officers because Adams won’t let him, while the mayor wants him to stay on until at least Jan. 1, sources said.
Shepard, who is one of Adams’ friends, has faced allegations of inappropriate, angry behavior in the past.
According to a federal lawsuit, a female protester accused Shepard of calling her a “b–” and banging her head on a bus window during the 2020 George Floyd protests.
Records show that civilian monitors deemed those charges against Shepard “unfounded” – meaning they could not prove his guilt, but did not exonerate him.
However, he confirmed another protester’s claim that Shepard tackled him without issuing any orders before tasering him – an incident captured on videoAccording to the records.
Records show Shepard received no discipline for the incident.
When federal agents raided several city officials, including Caban, in September, Shepard called a Post reporter looking for comment.”f—ing scoundrel,
Shortly afterward, Adams called Shepard’s language “inappropriate” and claimed that he had had a “very strong conversation” with the NYPD’s public affairs office, from which he was ordered to apologize.
The post has not yet received a response from Shepard. On Monday, he did not pick up or return calls from the reporter whom he called a scoundrel.
And as of Monday, Adams argued that he never heard Shepard insult a reporter or call any woman a “b—.”
“If these incidents happened, they should have been held responsible,” he told reporters.
A source told The Post that Donlon, 71, had long disliked Shepard, 48.
“I know this to be true,” the source said. “How is this guy (Shepard) in charge of discipline now when he can’t set his own rules. The boy calls you a scoundrel, now he’s pushing an old man.”
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