New York, NY – New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has requested he receive a fully staffed taxpayer-funded protection team when he leaves office.
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DNAinfo.com (http://dnain.fo/1be6eAg) reports that Kelly, who claims the protection team will be necessary due to the fact that he will remain a “high profile target,” says he will need a staff of six detectives—all of whom will remain on the city payroll at salaries of about $120K annually—to attend to both he and his family’s round-the-clock security needs.
Sources say Kelly put in the request over a week ago, and must now wait for it to be approved by his successor.
While no official announcement has been made, sources say Kelly’s request indicates he has most likely been informed mayor-elect de Balsio’s people that he will not be asked to remain on the job.
Should his request be granted, it is typically followed by a six month reassessment as to whether the size of his staff is still warranted.
Kelly took temporary protection after leaving the commish’s job in 1994.
The request makes Kelly only the second exiting commissioner to request taxpayer-funded protection.
Only Howard Safir, who took a 12 member team with when he left in 2000, made a similar request.
On a similar note, Mayor Bloomberg plans to take his entire 17 member security staff with him when he leaves.
According to sources, all Bloomberg’s detectives will file retirement papers with the city, and then immediately transfer over to Bloomberg’s private payroll.
One source said of Bloomberg’s security staff, “They’ve hit the NYPD lottery.”
Are they taking away his weapon? lol
Why doesn’t he just carry a loaded gun on him at all times in case he meets up with any trouble? That would be a lot cheaper.
Do you have any idea how many lives this man has probably saved? Give him what he wants.
The least we can do is protect the man who protects us. Why didn’t Bloomberg approve it?
Police are also targets. Perhaps all policemen should get round the clock security detail. Oh wait. Police are the security!!
Mr Kelly,
When you take the job you take on risks. The taxpayers should not have to foot a ridiculous 700,000$/yr bill to protect you.
I can understand assigning one office temporarily but this is beyond absurd.
Ray Kelly is a Marine, he can handle himself.
There is no legal requirement to give Kelly protection, once he leaves office. He is not a former President of the USA, who is granted such protection, by act of Congress. In fact, if Kelly wants protection, let him pay for it out of his own pocket, in the same manner that Bloomberg is doing. Kelly is not a poor person, and he will get a very generous pension, when he leaves. Del Blasio should not authorize any security for Ray Kelley once he leaves office. It should be noted that when former President Harry S. Truman left office on January 1, 1953, both he and Bess Truman did not have any Secret Service protection, for nearly eleven years (following the assassination of JFK). Hence, if Truman did without protection for eleven years, then Kelly can certainly do the same. Also, President Nixon gave up his Secret Service detail, and paid for his own private security.
Why would Bloomie need 17 detectives? He is irrelevant. Except perhaps to soda manufacturers.
Wait… If he is so worried about his safety, why not arm himself? Oh wait, NY gun laws.
If he is worried and wants 6 bodyguards, can each citizen get 1? As a victim of a NY mugging (I am just happy I wasn’t too seriously injured) I want a tax payer funded security detail. I obviously am a high profile target since I was attacked publicly in broad daylight (in a busy area)— don’t I deserve one? The cops after my attack said I couldn’t do much to protect myself besides self defense lessons (did those for a few years… And was proficient at the time of the attack). No weapons, no mace, no pepper spray allowed. Um… What am I to do if self defense lessons didn’t help me? I want a body guard or be allowed the right to arm myself!!!