NYPD Sergeant Says Promotion to Lieutenant Was Blocked Due to His Support of Colin Kaepernick

A New York Daily News Exclusive

By Graham Rayman

An outspoken NYPD sergeant says his promotion to lieutenant was blocked Friday because he backed Colin Kaepernick’s protests, the Daily News has learned.

Sgt. Edwin Raymond, who scored No. 26 out of 1,325 sergeants on the lieutenants’ test, was supposed to be promoted if not for questionable allegations filed by cops in his command regarding his handling of two domestic violence complaints, he says.

“It is unfortunate. I did a press conference in support of Colin Kaepernick, using his status to put a spotlight on issues in policing that need to be fixed,” Raymond, 33, told The News. “Because of the controversy a lot of cops criticized him. Me being aligned with him was seen as standing with the enemy.”

Ed Mullins, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, said the case is yet another example of a double standard ingrained in the NYPD’s disciplinary system.

“Decisions are made on the sly, and there are people who have pending charges and still get promoted, and others whose promotions are held back for reasons that are never explained,” Mullins said. “If this doesn’t appear to be retaliation, then I don’t know what is.”

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