Bratton Not Bothered By De Blasio's Call To NYPD About Arrested Ally
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton says he has "no problem whatsoever" with Mayor Bill de Blasio's call to the NYPD after a political ally was arrested.
Questions have swirled around the call de Blasio made last week after he learned that Bishop Orlando Findlayter was arrested after allegedly driving with a suspended license. He also had two outstanding warrants for failing to answer to minor violations.
The mayor called a top police official, but not Bratton. De Blasio said he only inquired about the arrest and did not ask for Findlayter to be released.
Bratton Not Bothered By De Blasio's Call To NYPD About Arrested Ally
Police say the bishop was released personally by a deputy inspector before the mayor made his call.
Findlayter served on the mayor's inaugural committee. He was released with a desk appearance ticket and allowed to leave.
In his first comments about the incident, Bratton said he believes de Blasio and the police officers who freed Findlayter acted appropriately.
"He can call anybody he wants anytime he wants," Bratton said of the mayor. "I call my people anytime I want. I call his people anytime I want. You need a free flow of communication in government, so I have no issue whatsoever with him calling anybody in my staff or his people calling people in my staff."
Bratton said he does not believe the call influenced the decision to let Findlayter go.
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