Police Commissioner Ray Kelly yesterday picked the NYPD’s top lawyer to be his second in command despite protests from black, Hispanic and gay cops.
George Grasso, the deputy commissioner for legal matters, will become the first deputy police commissioner, replacing Joseph Dunne, who retired.
Grasso has been credited with devising clever ways to lock up crooks. But minority police officers accused him of insensitivity in handling cases involving black, Hispanic, gay or female cops.
Leaders of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement, the Latino Officers Association and the Gay Officers Action League sent a letter to Kelly opposing Grasso’s appointment.
Kelly announced two other top appointments:
* Nicholas Estavillo, commanding officer of Manhattan North Patrol, was named chief of patrol, a position he had long coveted.
* Fred Patrick, former commissioner of juvenile justice in the Giuliani administration, was named deputy commissioner of community affairs.