NYPD bosses in Manhattan told a cop the window tints on his mom’s car had to be “removed now,” and then ordered another officer to use a blow dryer and acetone to perform the task behind a Hell’s Kitchen precinct’s station house, an internal report shows.
Police Officer Adam Benarafa walked into the Bronx’s 50 Precinct with his mom Wednesday to report the incident, an internal NYPD document shows.
The cop alleged that the tints on his mom’s red 2018 Honda Accord, which he drives to work, were removed by Sgt. Constantin Angelopoulos on Oct. 4 without his permission behind the Midtown North Precinct station house on West 54th Street, the report states.
Benarafa told Internal Affairs Bureau officers who investigated the incident that he was assigned to the precinct when he was confronted by Capt. Allen Kirmss and Antelopoulos regarding “a vehicle he operates with fully tinted windows including front windshield tints,” the IAB paperwork states.
He told investigators he was instructed to take the vehicle to the back of the precinct lot because “as per” Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Robert Gault “the tints had to be removed now,” the internal report states.
Benarafa brought the car to the back lot and another officer was ordered to go buy acetone, the report states.
Benarafa gave the other cop $10 for the purchase.
Angelopoulos then “removed the tints using a hand held hot blower,” the report states.
Precinct commanders have been under pressure to make sure officers’ personal vehicles are not violating any traffic laws.
NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law does not allow a windshield or front side windows that are dark.