Someone in the NYPD bureau responsible for preventing police corruption leaked the identity of an officer who told investigators about a Bronx lieutenant's alleged shady doings, according to the cop's lawyer. After officer and former police union rep Frank Palestro sent what were supposed to be anonymous tips to Internal Affairs, he found a mousetrap with his name on it in the 42nd Precinct and an Internal Affairs call log containing his cellphone number in his locker. "The log was sent back to the precinct by [Internal Affairs] and I think it was done deliberately," said attorney Eric Sanders.
Palestro had accused Lt. Susana Seda of ordering cops to write summonses for traffic violations they didn't witness, refusing to take crime complaints, and tampering with evidence. After being outed, Palestro resigned from the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association and was transferred out of the precinct. Now, according to the Daily News, investigators in Internal Affairs are trying to figure out if one of their own staffers revealed Palestro's identity to officers at his station house. The bureau is also investigating Palestro's allegations against Seda.
Palestro's complaints come after victims and other officers accused the department of manipulating crime statistics.
