new york's finest

NYPD Detective Who Drunkenly Shot Partner Fired Before He Could Quit

People walk by a New York Police Department (NYPD) outpost in Times Square
Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Remember the week when three cops were arrested for getting drunk and shooting at people? Well, at least one of them is no longer on the force. Detective Jay Poggi — the guy who shot his partner in the hand after hours of on-duty boozing in Howard Beach — was fired by Police Chief Bill Bratton on Friday. Having apparently sensed that it was time to move on, Poggi, a 31-year veteran, applied for retirement earlier this month, leaving the NYPD with only 30 days to file charges against him so that his case could be brought to departmental trial. But because Poggi said that he wouldn’t testify, Bratton went ahead and canned him.

The circumstances of the incident that led to Poggi’s departure are still unclear. While he said that his revolver went off when he tried to show it to the other detective, Matthew Sullivan, while the two sat in a patrol car, no bullet holes were found in the vehicle. According to the New York Daily News, “investigators have not ruled out the possibility the detectives were firing the gun into the air.” (Hey, things can get a little wild when you’re 11 drinks in.) Despite being fired, Poggi will get to keep his pension. So, that’s one down, and maybe two more to go.

NYPD Detective Who Drunkenly Shot Partner Fired