An NYPD precinct commander lost 20 days’ vacation pay and a female lieutenant working under him lost 10 days’ vacation pay after they were caught drinking on duty, police said Thursday.
Capt. Robert Gault, a 25-year veteran who runs the 10th Precinct in Chelsea, and Lt. Marlene Hernandez, who worked under him, spent more than an hour — the max for a meal — dining and drinking wine at Chelsea Ristorante Italiano on March 4, 2022, police said.
Boozing while working is prohibited except for undercovers, who are allowed two drinks to blend in during an investigation.
Gault, an NYPD bagpiper who had earlier attended a wake for a former colleague’s relative, was later slapped with departmental charges for drinking on duty, failure to supervise a subordinate and conducting personal business on city time.
His lawyer arranged for him to plead guilty in December to all three charges and lose 20 vacation days.
Sanchez, a 22-year veteran, was issued a command discipline in December and lost 10 vacation days. Command discipline penalties are imposed by NYPD commanders without a disciplinary hearing.
Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell later signed off on the penalties.
Sanchez on Dec. 30 was transferred to the Evidence Collection Team. Police said the transfer was unrelated to the drinking incident.
Neither of the officers would comment, nor would their union reps.