WP Officer Says Asst Police Chief Who Allegedly Assaulted Him Should Be Held Accountable

Westchester needs to put an end to its practice of failing to hold police officers accountable for their actions—according to White Plains Police Officer Michael Hannon and Damon Jones, a New York representative for Blacks in Law Enforcement in America (BLEA).

“I think it’s the status quo. The district’s attorney’s office has been looking out for police departments and refusing to investigate or properly investigate law enforcement for years,” said Jones—using the deaths of Mount Vernon Police Officer Christopher Ridley, Danroy Henry and Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. as examples during an interview on the Darrell Davis Radio Show Wednesday.

Hannon, who is a member of the Westchester Blacks In Law Enforcement, appeared on show, which airs on the New Rochelle based radio station WVOX AM, to criticize

The DA's office said that criminal prosecution against FitzSimmons was of the incident, and that there were varying accounts from witnesses. They referred the case back to the White Plains Police Department to be handled internally.

Hannon, who has been with the department for 13 years, claims that FitzSimmons allegedly hit him at police headquarters with a chair from behind on Sept. 22 after she was disappointed with the way he handled a dispatch call.

Hannon said he sustained nerve damage and other injuries that caused his right side to go numb forcing him to be out of work on disability for three months. Following the assault, Hannon said he and his mother sent letters to White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong, Mayor Tom Roach, and Police Chief James Bradley—however, he says Chong was the only one who responded saying that an internal investigation would take place.

Hannon said if it were the other way around he would have been suspended for 30 days pending an investigation and charges would have been brought against him. He attributes FitzSimmons’ rank and reputation as an advocate against domestic violence and crimes against children as protecting her from being prosecuted. He claims that other retired White Plains police personnel have said that FitzSimmons allegedly has a history of aggression and emotional episodes towards subordinates.

“I have to fight this fight, I was wronged,” said Hannon, during the radio show. “There are a lot of great officers in the White Plains Police Department and I owe it to them—and the ones who witnessed it and put their careers on the line for me, and they face the same fears and risk that I do.”

Jones said DiFiore couldn’t be expected to bring charges against FitzSimmons since DiFiore has been endorsed by the Westchester Chiefs of Police Association. 

“We see hypocrisy in our justice system in Westchester County,” said Jones. “We see the good ol’ boy network still moving along and we see Janet DiFiore covering up the dirty deeds of law enforcement.” 

Lucian Chalfen, a spokesperson from the Westchester County District Attorney's office, said that the DA's office doesn't shy away from prosecuting law enforcement officials when appropriate and cited about seven individuals who were charged.

Click to read Chalfen's full statement. 

Hannon, who has been supported by the White Plains Police Benevolent Association, said he hasn’t decided whether or not to take the case to the attorney general’s office.

“Mayor Tom Roach, Commissioner David Chong and Police Chief James Bradley—at the end of the day, Ann FitzSimmons can only get away with what they allow her to,” said Hannon, during his WVOX interview. 

Click on the YouTube video to see the full interview and Hannon’s full account of the incident.

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