The city is fighting to keep private the suicide note penned by an NYPD lieutenant who shot himself after ordering the use of a Taser on emotionally disturbed man. Facing a $10 million lawsuit from the family of Iman Morales — who died after being shot with the Taser and falling from a second-story roof ledge — the city is trying to withhold Lt. Michael Pigott's suicide note, which attorneys representing Morales' family say is a necessary part of their case the Post reports. more ›

The police officer who was ordered to Taser an emotionally disturbed man—who then fell to his death—was promoted to detective just weeks after the fatal incident, the Daily News reports. Nicholas Marchesona was told to fire the stun gun at Iman Morales, perched above a storefront, last September, even though there nothing to break Morales' fall. Marchesona's superior, Lieutenant Michael Pigott, who gave him the order, committed suicide days later, apparently racked with guilt over Morales' death. The News adds that Pigott's suicide note said Marchesona shouldn't be blamed, but Morales' family is upset about the promotion—they believe he should be fired and face criminal charges. more ›

More details were revealed today about Rodulfo Jones, the man who stood on a ledge for 13 hours after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend. Jones, an off-duty NYPD traffic agent, was saying that he was "a demon" and wept as police tried to talk him down. By the time he was finally ready to leave the ledge, he talked about how out of character this was and continually asked about his girlfriend's condition. The only thing covering him, his boxer shorts, were stained with the blood of girlfriend Carmen Valez, who remains in critical condition. A police source tells the NY Post that the cops involved were making sure "to have to come in on his own" after the September incident with Iman Morales. "He was definitely thinking about jumping, but we talked that out of him," one of the officers on the scene told the paper. more ›

Yesterday, the funeral for NYPD Lieutenant Michael Pigott, who killed himself a week after issuing a command that led to a man's death by Taser, was held in Islip, Long Island. Hundreds of police officers were on hand to remember the 21-year veteran of the force, who left behind his wife and three children. Rev. Douglas Madlon revealed during the service that Pigott, stripped of his badge and gun, was afraid he wouldn't be a police officer and had said to him, "I'm not a desk person." One fellow cop told Newsday, "It's a horrible, horrible thing. He was a great man. He was a cop's cop." And while there was bitterness from some police officers and even Pigott's own father towards the NYPD, Police Commission Ray Kelly attended the wake over the weekend but not the funeral "out of sensitivity to the family." more ›

Hundreds of officers from the NYPD and elsewhere came out to pay their respects to Lieutenant Michael Pigott yesterday at the first day of his wake in Islip. Pigott died Thursday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a week after being embroiled in a media frenzy following the Taser-induced death of an emotionally disturbed man. Friends and family paid tribute to Pigott yesterday with one lifelong friend telling Newsday, "He was a gentle-hearted person, big heart, generous, friendly, sweet. Everyone loved him." There were also definite feelings of bitterness in the air due to the circumstances surrounding Pigott's death. Some colleagues were upset at Commissioner Ray Kelly's denial of an antique truck from Piggott's unit to be used during his funeral. And one guest lashed out at reporters saying, “You people are half of what caused this, O.K.? The media and the pressure you put on this man that did nothing wrong, you are responsible.” more ›

The wake for NYPD Lieutenant Michael Pigott, who killed himself on Thursday, is being held in Islip, Long Island today and tomorrow, with funeral service on Monday. Pigott shot himself in the head at Emergency Service Unit headquarters, apparently racked with guilt and worry after his command led to the fatal Tasering of emotionally disturbed man, Iman Morales, in Brooklyn on September 24. more ›

NYPD Emergency Services Unit Lieutenant Michael Pigott, who killed himself yesterday morning, left behind a suicide note noting his remorse and concern over his family. A police source told the Post, "He didn't want his family to see him cuffed up and jailed. The guy felt he disgraced his family." more ›

Lieutenant Michael Pigott, who ordered the fatal Tasering of an emotionally disturbed person, killed himself this morning. WABC 7 reports "Pigott reported to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, where he took his life shortly after 6 a.m." and another officer "sustained a non-life threatening injury during the incident." Pigott had been stripped of his gun and badge after the Tasering, where Iman Morales fell to his death, and yesterday, the 21-year police force veteran had said he was "truly sorry for what happened." The Daily News suggests that Pigott, who turned 46 today, went to Floyd Bennett Field--where the Emergency Services Unit in headquartered--because there are weapons there. more ›

A naked man standing on a fire escape and, later, a storefont, fell to his death after a police officer stunned him with a Taser. Based on video (below) and witness reports, Iman Morales, 35, was wielding a fluorescent light bulbs at cops who tried to get close. more ›