24 N.Y. Officers Disciplined for Sleeping on Duty

Twenty-four police officers on the night shift in the Bronx were transferred or retired for routinely sleeping on duty, officials said Friday, but they denied reports that some were caught in their pajamas.

The 24 Bronx Central Booking officers--including an inspector, two captains, a lieutenant and eight sergeants--assigned to the midnight-to-8 a.m. shift were caught napping, Chief Daniel Sullivan said. He was sworn in Thursday as head of the department’s Inspectional Services, the unit responsible for investigating corruption.

A buzzer system was installed in the locker room to wake up officers when supervisors arrived at the building, authorities said.

Sullivan said the department received an anonymous letter in April that reported the napping. An undercover officer found officers “sleeping every late tour he was there,” Sullivan said.

Denies Pajama Report

New York Newsday reported Friday that some of the officers took pajamas to work, then left their posts and slept for the rest of their work tour. Sullivan denied that the officers wore pajamas while on duty.

He said the officers, who reportedly slept on tables in a lunchroom, split up the shift “four hours on and four hours off.”

Department charges have been brought against eight sergeants and one lieutenant. They face fines ranging from several days’ to several weeks’ salary, officials said.

In addition, one inspector, two captains and nine police officers have been transferred from the unit. Three other officers have retired, and transfers for six other officers are under consideration, officials said.