City lawyers aren’t defending a high-ranking NYPD official against claims that he illegally clobbered an Occupy Wall Street protester, according to court papers filed yesterday.

The Manhattan federal court filing denies plaintiff Felix Rivera-Pitre’s civil-rights claims against the city over the October 2011 incident, but notably doesn’t do so on behalf of Deputy Inspector Johnny Cardona, who’s named as a co-defendant. “I am glad the city recognizes Cardona is not worth defending, but it is disturbing that the same city gives him a badge, a gun, and a six-figure salary,” said Ron Kuby, Rivera-Pitre’s lawyer.

The move marks the second time the city has declined to represent a cop accused of attacking activists in the 2011 protests.

The city Law Department and the NYPD both declined comment.