A Bronx police officer was stripped of his gun and badge Thursday after allegations that he was inebriated on the job.
Officer Richard Evans was reportedly deemed "unfit for duty" during his midnight to 8 a.m. shift in the 52nd Precinct. "He was clearly inebriated. He was slurring his words," a police official told the Post.
Evans and his partner, a rookie cop, were reportedly responding to a call about "a drunken dispute" on Webster Avenue near East 203rd Street. There, a civilian complained that Officer Evans was drunk—Evans reportedly denied this, and summoned a supervisor.
A sergeant allegedly responded to the call and declared Evans, who joined the NYPD in 2001, fit for duty. The officers—excluding Evans—left the scene without making any arrests. But when Evans returned to the station house later, he was interviewed by the captain and declared unfit for duty.
Evans has been suspended without pay. According to public records he earned over $125,000 last year. Another source tells the Post the cop is "really sick and having issues."
Eric Sanders, an attorney who often represents officers who sue the department or the city, told the Daily News that he's trying to find out whether any bystanders took video of Evans arriving on the scene. "Obviously this officer has a problem, but his problem jeopardizes his partner and the public safety," Sanders said. "If he was driving drunk, Evans should have been arrested."
According to the News, Evans's supervising officer may also face disciplinary action for failure to supervise.
An NYPD spokesperson did not comment on the matter to Gothamist.
