(The Center Square) — The head of a New York City civilian board that investigates complaints against NYPD cops has resigned after a long feud with the city’s top police union.
In a letter to Mayor Eric Adams announcing his resignation, Dr. Mohammad Khalid, chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, cited “relentless” pressure from New York Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry, whom he accused of forcing him out.
“Mr. Hendry’s attacks have been relentless and untrue, and they have negatively impacted me, my family and my health,” Khalid wrote. “To be clear, I would have liked to continue my work with the CCRB. But I will not do so when he can brazenly lie about me without consequence.”
The PBA has pressed for Khalid’s resignation, accusing him of a “bias” against NYPD officers and pointing to his voting record on the board.
In an Oct. 31 letter to Adams, the PBA claimed that Khalid has a “conflict of interest” as the CCRB’s chairman because he also holds a position on Staten Island Community Board 2. The police union said that has “undeniably influenced the outcome of countless cases where CCRB substantiated and recommended discipline of alleged misconduct.”
“His participation in these determinations are extremely problematic as substantiations are used as the basis for charges against the officer, as well as the ultimate disciplinary determination by the NYPD, and they follow police officers for the remainder of their careers as they are both publicly available and incorporated into their personnel file,” the PBA wrote.
The 15-member board is tasked with reviewing investigations of NYPD officers and other law enforcement officials accused of misconduct and recommending discipline for those actions.
Khalid, a Staten Island dentist, was tapped by Adams as the board’s interim chairman in 2024. He hadn’t been confirmed yet. Prior to serving as chairman, he was a board commissioner from 2005 to 2014 under then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
In a statement acknowledging his abrupt resignation, the board praised Khalid for tenure as the panel’s chairman and for “his tireless effort and the lasting impact he had as its leader.”
“He advocated for an increased budget and headcount to help fulfill the work of civilian oversight of police,” the board said. “He led by example in letting the values of objectivity and impartiality guide his decision-making.”
But Hendry welcomed Khalid’s resignation, citing his “disregard for CCRB’s own rules and procedures, and his dangerous plan to strip away the police commissioner’s authority.”
“His resignation is an important first step, but much more is required to make CCRB into the impartial agency mandated by the City Charter,” he said, adding that Khalid’s replacement must be “a fair-minded chair, and every case that went against a police officer should be thrown out.”
