As both Bronx prosecutors and the Internal Affairs Bureau continue their separate investigations into the ticket-fixing scandal which has enveloped the NYPD in recent months—and jeopardized tons of criminal cases in the process—it is becoming more apparent that the alleged "courtesy" of cops helping out family members was only the tip of the iceberg. Unless those cops happen to be cousins with Jay-Z, Alex Rodriguez, and George Steinbrenner.
Sources tell the News that cops made tickets disappear for all three of the celebrities, former Knick Raymond Felton, and at least three current City Council members. "It was very easy for a big name to walk away from a summons. [Celebrities] have contacts everywhere. There's an eagerness to help because of who they are," one police source said. They were also allegedly incredibly unsubtle about it: the source said that representatives for celebrities and politicians would sometimes call Police HQ directly to get their clients off the hook.
A-Rod was given a ticket for speeding when he was driving on the West Side Highway near West 57th Street in 2009. A highway cop issued it, but the source says an NYPD sergeant later made it vanish. Former Knick Felton was pulled over near MSG, but his summons for a moving violation never made it to court, two sources said. Steinbrenner apparently helped make numerous tickets disappear for family, friends and employees. And according to the News, Jay-Z's personal driver was pulled over last year speeding down the West Side Highway, but a cop "lost" the paperwork—in his rear view mirror was the incredibly friendly law!
The Bronx grand jury probe, which initiated the investigation, has extended the time period to hear more evidence another 30 days. Around 40 cops could indicted in that probe for fixing tickets, sometimes in exchange for money or gifts. Hundreds more could face departmental disciplinary charges.
