Ticket-fixing police to receive full pensions anyway

Cops worried that ticket-fixing charges might affect their pensions can retire a little easier now.

Under a new bill signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on September 23, any police officer or firefighter with 20 years experience who retires or is dismissed from his job because of anything less than a felony conviction is entitled to a full pension.

After a widespread Bronx ticket-fixing  investigation came to light in April — when prosecutors, in a grand jury case revealed wiretapped recordings of Bronx cop Julissa Goris getting union delegates to fix two summonses — many cops who worried that they might be implicated rushed to determine if they could retire, a source told The Riverdale Press in May.

Many eventually withdrew their paperwork while the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau investigated.

Among them, according to various media reports, was Robert McGee, a Bronx police officer living in Riverdale who was called to testify before the grand jury in August.

The stress of the investigation became all too apparent on September 14 when Mr. McGee attempted suicide by touching the third rail at the 238th Street No. 1 train station. Mr. McGee, who was checked into a psychological ward on September 28, will not face criminal charges but could be called to testify against fellow cops at trial.

While the 50th Precinct has had fewer cops implicated in the investigation, according to sources, one noteworthy case revolved around the Five-O.

Among those caught up in the investigation is Joseph Anthony, a PBA trustee and former 50th Precinct delegate, who may have helped a retired police officer get preferential treatment after a January drunk driving stop in Kingsbridge.

A police source said that Mr. Anthony communicated with a supervisor in the Bronx on January 24, the night James Finnegan was collared for DWI. PBA representatives also made calls to the 50th Precinct the night of Mr. Finnegan’s arrest, according to the police source.