An NYPD sergeant with a for-hire vehicle side business and a history of alleged misconduct has been fined by the city for attempting to use his badge to curry favor with the city's taxi regulator.
According to the Conflicts of Interest Board, Sergeant Howard Roth abused his city position and city resources while attempting to renew his for-hire vehicle license from a Taxi & Limousine Commission supervisor in 2017. In a settlement announced this week, Roth admitted to telling the supervisor, "I'm NYPD. I should not have to follow protocols," after he was informed that he'd have to renew his license online.
When that didn't work, Roth apparently informed the employee they "both work for the city and you should take care of this," before fuming that he gets "no respect" from the TLC.
Roth had previously received the police department's permission to operate the for-hire service on the condition he not use his police authority to "obtain any advantage for himself or his company, that he must not identify himself as a City employee, except in response to a direct inquiry, and that he must not use City resources, including his badge, in connection with his work for his company."
As a result of violating that agreement, Roth was hit with a $6,000 fine by the Conflicts of Interest Board.
Asked whether the sergeant would face any additional consequences from the NYPD, a police spokesperson told Gothamist, "Internal Affairs investigated the incident and found that there was no cause for discipline."
The sergeant, who has been on the force since 2010 and received a salary last year of $90,685, also has a history of alleged misconduct. According to a new database that tracks complaints against police officers, Roth has been named in at least six lawsuits, which have cost taxpayers $219,000.
Roth could not be reached for comment.
