The top brass at the NYPD used their power to intimidate a mid-career officer for minor infractions, court papers reveal. Mark Schwartz, a 15-year veteran of the force, filed a lawsuit against former Assistant Police Commissioner Kaz Daughtry and other officials. The lawsuit alleges that Schwartz was subjected to “highway therapy,” a punishment involving a long and arduous commute, after he failed to recognize Daughtry and ticketed city employees for parking violations.
Schwartz’s lawyer, John Scola, described the ordeal as unjust and emotionally distressing for his client. Schwartz joined the NYPD in 2010 and worked in precincts in northeastern Queens for over a decade before facing harassment from Daughtry and former Chief of Department John Chell.
The lawsuit details how Schwartz was transferred to Staten Island’s 120th Precinct after a drunken call from Chell, who was reportedly angry about Schwartz not recognizing Daughtry. The transfer imposed a two-hour-plus commute each way on Schwartz, causing significant hardship.
Schwartz continued to face challenges on Staten Island, with NYPD personnel reportedly shutting him out of crucial software and subjecting him to extreme scrutiny. Chell and Daughtry were accused of misusing internal affairs to harass Schwartz with false accusations of racism.
The lawsuit also claims that Schwartz was denied promotion to the rank of captain, with Chell allegedly influencing the decision of the promotion board. Scola stated that Schwartz had lawfully issued tickets to illegally parked cars, including those belonging to teachers, but was punished for doing his job.
The lawsuit sheds light on the NYPD’s alleged selective enforcement of laws, with claims that certain groups, including teachers and friends of right-wing radio hosts, were exempt from traffic tickets. Schwartz, who is now a captain in Manhattan, believes he should have been promoted sooner and faced retaliation, including being denied cash overtime.
While Schwartz’s legal team hopes for a resolution under a new mayoral administration, they express skepticism about the NYPD’s willingness to change their practices. Daughtry has since moved on to work for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, while Chell retired in 2025 and Gulotta continues to work for the NYPD. Requests for comments from the individuals and the NYPD were not answered.
(Note: The content has been summarized and paraphrased for clarity and brevity.)
