ALBANY, New York (AP) – A New York state trooper should have been reprimanded for having a romantic relationship with then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s adult daughter while working on the Democrat’s security detail, according to a report by the state inspector general.
The watchdog investigation, revealed on Friday, comes two years after the romance — and the trooper’s apparent exile to a position near the Canadian border — made headlines.
Cuomo was said to have personally ordered the trooper’s relocation to a position some 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of the governor’s residence because he was angry about the connection at the time.
Inspector General Lucy Lang’s report did not address whether the governor sought the trooper’s relocation. Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi stated Friday that the governor had no involvement.
In addition, the article does not specify which of Cuomo’s three daughters was involved.
According to the inspector general’s findings, a top Cuomo staffer informed the commander of the governor’s security detail about the connection on May 22, 2020, the day after the governor found out from his daughter.
The relationship was then handed up to Kevin Bruen, who is currently the superintendent of state police but was the first deputy at the time. At the time, Bruen informed a colleague that the governor was extremely furious.
Dane Pfeiffer, the trooper connected with Cuomo’s daughter, told state police that the connection started around two months ago and that he never physically interacted with her while on duty. He called his acts professional. Bruen, on the other hand, believed Pfeiffer was compromised.
You can’t be in this position and have that type of relationship with one of the protectees, Bruen told investigators from the Inspector General’s Office. You may be… working on a certain job, and if there’s a fire in the home, you rush to your lover. Right. But that’s not your responsibility.
Bruen refused to legally reprimand Pfeiffer for having a consensual relationship, but he did want him removed from the protective services section. Soon after, Pfeiffer sought a transfer to a regiment in northernmost New York. Pfeiffer told inspector general investigators that he didn’t want to depart but was voluntold to change jobs.
I volunteered on paper, but no, I don’t want to go up there, and I never want to go up there again, Pfeiffer testified.
Pfeiffer was promoted to sergeant in November and had been assigned to New York City, according to reports.
The inspector general’s report does not suggest that Cuomo did anything improper, but it does criticize state police for failing to follow their own protocols after learning of the connection.
Pfeiffer should have been penalized, according to the inspector general. According to the study, officials must avoid from engaging in activities that might interfere with the proper, impartial, and effective execution of official responsibilities.
In contrast, the report said that Bruen opted to reprimand Pfeiffer’s supervisor for failing to alert superiors about the connection after learning about it. The sergeant, who was the supervisor, decided to retire.
The New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association, the troopers’ union, said it was shocked and outraged by the judgment that the trooper should have been reprimanded.
According to the union, he participated in personal off-duty activity that had nothing to do with his duties or obligations.
The protective services section was reformed last year, according to state police, and we are already working with the Inspector General to ensure the suggestions in the report are executed.
Cuomo stepped down a year ago after a sexual harassment controversy.
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