NYPD official booted from post after public fight with commish — but he’s back hours later

A apical NYPD charismatic was booted down nan scenes from his station aft a heated nationalist conflict pinch nan interim constabulary commissioner — but he was officially backmost successful hours later aft media inquiries connected nan ouster.

The department’s Chief of Staff Tarik Sheppard was removed aft he and interim Commissioner Tom Donlon’s kerfuffle astatine a botched photograph opp astatine nan New York City marathon, sources told The Post.

But aft media inquiries astir nan latest turmoil nan management of embattled Mayor Eric Adams, officials claimed thing had changed for Sheppard. Sheppard besides served arsenic lawman committee of nationalist information, a civilian position that deals pinch media inquiries.

“The politician is furious astir this full story,” 1 root told The Post. “With each that’s going connected pinch his [federal] criminal investigation, he does not request to inquire questions astir infighting successful nan constabulary department.”

“Yesterday, he called nan statement a ‘spousal fight,'” nan root continued. “The politician did not want different communicative coming saying Sheppard was retired aft he called nan incident a spousal conflict [because] he would’ve looked worse than he already does.”

City Hall’s back-and-forth appears to beryllium conscionable different beforehand successful a ferocious conflict betwixt Donlon, a respected erstwhile FBI charismatic appointed to lead a section besieged by national investigations, and Sheppard, nan main of unit appointed by his pal nan politician complete Donlon’s ain objections.

The powerfulness struggle comes arsenic nan Adams management faces national investigations into alleged corruption and influence-peddling – including a historical indictment of Hizzoner himself, who stands accused of taking bribes and defrauding nan metropolis retired of $10 cardinal successful nationalist run funds.

One constabulary root said nan problem is of his ain making.

“This is sad,” nan root said. “The politician has allowed nan NYPD to go a soap opera, and he is nan doddering grandfather.”

Sheppard has drawn scrutiny from immoderate successful nan section for parading astir nan metropolis successful a three-star chief’s azygous contempt ne'er moreover rising to nan rank of chief.

But nan Sunday dust-up seemed to beryllium nan past straw for nan 71-year-old Donlon, who already had fought pinch nan bull who had been made his main of unit against his wishes, sources said.

The nationalist fracas unfolded conscionable earlier nan marathon erstwhile Sheppard forced his measurement into a group changeable pinch nan NYPD moving club.

In nan photo, Donlon’s scowling look is perched betwixt nan shoulders of Sheppard and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry astatine nan marathon’s Staten Island kickoff spot.

Sources opportunity Sheppard pushed his measurement into nan pic, which was shared connected X by a apical constabulary official, and shunted nan interim apical bull into nan background.

The commish told Sheppard to scram, and nudged him successful nan limb – a diss that led to a shouting lucifer that only ended erstwhile NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey stepped successful and physically separated them, sources said.

Adams downplayed nan fracas — which unfolded successful afloat position of marathon spectators — and compared it to a joined couple’s squabble.

“Just because you person an statement pinch your spouse, your child, your business partner, doesn’t mean you don’t emotion them,” he said Monday. “If that was a signature of you don’t attraction for nan different personification successful your life, past we’re each successful trouble.”

But it seemed inevitable that Donlon and Sheppard were headed for divorcement – particularly aft a gathering Sheppard had past week successful nan commish’s agency successful which he told everyone that he was moving nan office, sources said.

At nan gathering, which Sheppard held while Donlon was out, Sheppard told nan others that if they wanted thing done – promotions, transfers aliases nan for illustration – they’d person to spell done him, sources said.

And if they didn’t, they’d beryllium transferred out, they added.

“The politician wholly created this chaotic situation,” a erstwhile NYPD supervisor pinch much than 40 years of acquisition claimed Monday.

“This is nan astir disrespectful enactment towards a constabulary commissioner I’ve ever seen. The politician who calls himself an ex-cop should beryllium ashamed of himself for allowing this to hap successful nan NYPD.”

Adams said he said pinch some Donlon and Sheppard aft nan statement astir his expectations for really they should show “decorum,” but wouldn’t elaborate.

Sheppard – a known friend of Adams’ – was slated to return to moving arsenic nan lawman commissioner of nationalist information, sources said.

He did not respond to a petition for remark Tuesday.

But DCPI issued a connection saying, essentially, thing had changed official.

“He is acting Chief of Staff and Deputy Commissioner of Public Information,” nan section said.

The ongoing soul brawls are nan consequence of an NYPD shakeup pursuing national agents’ ambush of erstwhile Commissioner Edward Caban’s location successful September, which led to his resignation.

Adams appointed Donlon to lead nan section done nan storm.

But nan determination rankled galore apical NYPD officials, including Maddrey and Sheppard, who were mostly fixed free rein nether Caban, sources said.

The interim leader laid down nan law during an early gathering – but nan disgruntled brass launched a behind-the-scenes unit run that prompted nan dismissal of Donlon’s executive team, including his erstwhile main of staff, sources said.

Amid nan chaos, Sheppard ascended from lawman commissioner of nationalist affairs to acting main of unit — a move that raised eyebrows wrong nan NYPD, arsenic galore constabulary officials learned astir it only from societal media, sources person said.