Case Name: Anthony Trotta, Respondent, v. Benjamin Ward, as Police Commissioner of the City of New York, Appellant
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1991-01-15
Citations: 77 N.Y.2d 827
Docket Number: 
Parties: Anthony Trotta, Respondent, v Benjamin Ward, as Police Commissioner of the City of New York, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 77
Pages: 827–828

Head Matter:
Anthony Trotta, Respondent, v Benjamin Ward, as Police Commissioner of the City of New York, Appellant.
Decided January 15, 1991
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Victor A. Kovner, Corporation Counsel (Fay Ng of counsel), for appellant.
Amy R. Agress for respondent.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
The order of the Appellate Division should be reversed, with costs, the determination of the Commissioner reinstated and the certified question answered in the negative.
Disciplinary determinations by the Police Commissioner are entitled to substantial deference "because he, and not the courts, is accountable to the public for the integrity of the Department" (Matter of Berenhaus v Ward, 70 NY2d 436, 445; see, Matter of Purdy v Kreisberg, 47 NY2d 354, 360). The Commissioner's dismissal of a police officer for using illegal drugs is not so disproportionate to the offense as to be shocking to one's sense of fairness (see, Matter of Pell v Board of Educ., 34 NY2d 222, 233).
Chief Judge Wachtler and Judges Simons, Kaye, Alexander, Titone, Hancock, Jr., and Bellacosa concur in memorandum.
On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.4 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.4), order reversed, etc.