Department of Investigation

Winnie Greco speaks at a Gracie Mansion Lunar New Year celebration, Feb. 8, 2022.

Department of Investigation Opens Inquiry into a Key Adams Aide, Winnie Greco

Nov. 30, 2023, 4:46 p.m.Oct. 8, 2024, 10:19 a.m.

City Hall asked the department to act after THE CITY reported s that Greco tried to benefit improperly from her role as the mayor’s powerful Director of Asian Affairs.

City Government

Department of Ignored: Agencies Refuse to Heed Hundreds of DOI Recommendations

Nov. 1, 2023, 5:00 a.m.Nov. 1, 2023, 9:03 a.m.

Nearly 500 Department of Investigation suggestions for improving agencies and protecting civil rights over the past decade got “accepted” but never implemented, its records show.

Department of Investigation

Fake Safety Log Papered Over Construction Worker’s Life-Altering Injury, Suit Alleges

Aug. 7, 2023, 5:10 a.m.Aug. 7, 2023, 9:48 a.m.

City Department of Investigation probing a supervisor’s allegation that her signature was forged on a contractor’s document filed to show safety procedures got followed.

Bill de Blasio

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio Slapped With Record Fine Over Public Money for NYPD Detail

June 15, 2023, 6:08 p.m.March 14, 2024, 2:21 p.m.

In response, de Blasio immediately filed a lawsuit against the board that had warned him against billing the city for police protection on his presidential campaign.

NYPD

NYPD Oversight Board May Halt Probes of Biased Policing Over Lack of Funding

May 10, 2023, 7:47 p.m.May 10, 2023, 10:05 p.m.

Civilian Complaint Review Board interim chair Arva Rice said Wednesday that a new unit launched in October to investigate racial profiling and police bias won’t have enough funds to operate past June under the mayor’s proposed budget.

Parks Department

Embattled Tree Bros Hang on to City Pruning Contract With DOI Monitorship

Sept. 29, 2022, 7:39 p.m.Oct. 7, 2022, 5:39 p.m.

When the sibling owners of Dragonetti Brothers Landscaping were indicted in an insurance scam last year, tree maintenance in Brooklyn and Queens was put on hold. But the city Department of Investigation is working with Parks officials to rev up the chainsaws again.

Public Safety

New NYPD Inspector General Faces Department Resistant to Recommended Reforms

Aug. 4, 2022, 2:36 p.m.Aug. 5, 2022, 10:19 p.m.

Charles Guria takes on the official watchdog job with a strong resume but a weak hand, as Department of Investigation records show limited compliance with past directives for change.

NYCHA

Investigators Advised NYCHA Three Years Ago to Ban E-bikes. 25 Related Fires Later, It’s Finally Taking Action.

July 11, 2022, 6:18 p.m.April 3, 2025, 2:19 p.m.

NYCHA declined to answer THE CITY’s questions about why it took so long to respond to the Department of Investigation’s suggestion.

Jails

City Jail Officials Ignored Investigators’ Push to Modernize Record Keeping

May 3, 2022, 7:50 p.m.May 3, 2022, 7:51 p.m.

Three years ago, the Department of Investigation recommended that the Department of Correction update its system of tracking violent incidents from old-school secret logbooks to a transparent digital system. Nothing has changed yet.

Rikers Island

Cargo Hold: NYC Jails Official Sought to Ease Dress Code Established to Block Smuggling

Feb. 17, 2022, 8:17 p.m.Feb. 24, 2022, 10:15 a.m.

Just days into his tenure, a senior official under DOC Commissioner Louis Molina sought permission to ease a rule banning officers from wearing cargo pants, THE CITY has learned. Sources say he was told “No way.”

Department of Investigation