Two sergeants also lost their guns and shields and were ordered on desk duty while the investigation is ongoing.
The department’s Internal Affairs Bureau is looking into claims that Detective Ian Cyrus put $2,650 into his coat during the raid on the deli. The police were there to investigate reports that the store was illegally selling untaxed cigarettes. The police had just arrested two store employees when the alleged theft happened.
After seeing the video, NYPD officials immediately suspended Cyrus without pay and placed the two supervising sergeants – Sgts. Friz Glemaud and Valerie Santos – on modified assignments.
Ali Abullah, the owner of the deli, said he had set aside the stolen money to pay the store’s rent, and at first thought one of the employees had taken it. When he saw the videotape he said he was shocked.
"I don’t have a problem with the city, I don’t have a problem with the cops, but this guy, he took the money [and] put it into his own pocket," he said.
