Howard Redmond, the disgraced NYPD inspector who headed former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s security detail, pleaded guilty to obstruction and tampering charges Wednesday for interfering in a city probe into his former boss.
Redmond, 58, was sentenced to 70 hours of community service in Manhattan Criminal Court after turning himself in earlier in the day on charges he blocked a city Department of Investigation probe into the former mayor’s alleged misuse of his security detail during his quixotic 2020 presidential bid.
“I would like to apologize to the Department of Investigation for not taking their investigation seriously,” Redmond told Judge Laurie Peterson during his arraignment.
The disgraced cop — who was suspended by the NYPD last month before being fired — pleaded guilty to two counts each of tampering with physical evidence, obstructing governmental administration and official misconduct.
Peterson handed down the sentence on the condition that Redmond provide proof to the court that he has been axed by the NYPD.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office had been considering criminal charges against Redmond since 2021 after the city’s Department of Investigation determined that he “actively obstructed and sought to thwart” the investigation into de Blasio’s spending.
The veteran cop was suspended from the NYPD without pay July 11 as the charges hung over his head.
NYPD Inspector Howard Redmond (left) surrenders at Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday to face obstruction charges. Gregory P. MangoHe was later “dismissed” from the department, police said Wednesday without providing any additional details.
According to a 49-page report released in October 2021, the NYPD shelled out $319,794 for the department’s security detail to accompany de Blasio as he traversed the country during his longshot campaign — including to attend a Red Sox game.
Former DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said at the time that the mayor’s son, Dante de Blasio, even used his dad’s security detail as a “concierge service.”
Members of the detail also “occasionally” chauffeured de Blasio campaign staffers as well.
Redmond, who headed up the then-mayor’s detail, was the only person in the probe to be referred to prosecutors for potential criminal charges by the DOI, which found he “actively obstructed and sought to thwart” the investigation.
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio was probed for using his security detail during his botched presidential bid, allegedly chalking up more than $300K, including attending a Boston Red Sox game. Erik Thomas/NY Post
According to a 2021 report by the city Department of Investigation, de Blasio used the detail to chauffeur his son, Dante, around town. Getty ImagesThe DOI said Redmond refused to hand over his cellphone for months, and only did so after he was ordered to by a supervisor.
He allegedly first destroyed the phone “under the guise of receiving an upgraded device,” according to the DOI report.
The report also accused the head of the Executive Protection Unit of ordering subordinates “to impede the NYPD from getting access to EPU communications.”
“DOI has concluded that the NYPD inspector in charge of the First Family’s security detail actively obstructed and sought to thwart this investigation, frustrating DOI’s efforts to learn the full facts regarding these allegations,” the report said.
Redmond (left) who was suspended last month, is accused of interfering into a probe into de Blasio. Gregory P. MangoRedmond turned himself in at the courthouse shortly after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, wearing a dark suit and a blue-pattern tie and accompanied by his lawyer, Louis La Pietra.
He was arraigned later in the day.
“Inspector Redmond engaged in a clear and brazen pattern of obstruction and tampering throughout the entirety of DOI’s investigation,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in a statement after the hearing.
“Position and rank do not exempt anyone from cooperating and participating with a law enforcement investigation, and we will continue to hold accountable any public official who thinks the rules do not apply to them,” he said.
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “Former Inspector Redmond deliberately obstructed an active DOI investigation, ignoring repeated requests for his cell phone and then purposefully deleting critical text messages.”
“Today’s guilty plea and sentencing underscore his serious criminal conduct and reflect a complete disregard for his sworn oath as a police officer,” she said in a statement. “The Manhattan District Attorney’s prosecution of Redmond is a powerful statement that no one is above the law.”
De Blasio could not immediately be reached for comment.
Additional reporting by Craig McCarthy
