The NYPD is at the center of a growing controversy that has sparked lawsuits, public outrage, and serious questions about internal culture. But the story is more complicated than it first appears.
For over a decade, Alisa Bajraktarevic served in the New York Police Department’s Robbery Squad. At just 34 years old, she had climbed the ranks with determination. But on May 2, her career came to an abrupt halt.
The department confirmed that Bajraktarevic was officially dismissed, a decision made by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
While the NYPD offered no specific reason for the firing, Bajraktarevic claims the motive was not professional misconduct but retaliation for speaking out.
What set this case ablaze was a topless photo that Bajraktarevic says was shared without her consent. According to her lawsuit, the image had been sent privately to Lieutenant Mark Rivera, a fellow officer she had briefly dated.
Bajraktarevic claims that Rivera then shared the photo in a group chat, which allegedly caused it to circulate widely across the department.
“There is no doubt that our client’s internal complaints of s*xual harassment, the unlawful dissemination of a naked photograph of her, and her lawsuit against the NYPD were the true motivating factors behind her termination,”
said her attorney John Scola in a statement to The New York Post.
“We are confident that once this matter is adjudicated, the retaliatory nature of her discharge will be fully exposed.”
But the photo leak wasn’t the only issue. Bajraktarevic also claimed in court documents that another supervisor s*xually harassed her in 2022. She says her attempts to speak up were brushed aside, and union delegates reportedly discouraged her from filing a formal complaint, saying these kinds of things were “common.”
Her personal life only further entangled with her professional downfall. In 2023, her then-boyfriend, Kelvin Hernandez, was stopped by narcotics officers during an ongoing drug investigation.
Bajraktarevic allegedly intervened on the scene and told officers he wasn’t dealing drugs.
“Narcotics had been watching him. They didn’t know who she was until she stepped up and said who she was,” a source told The Post.
Hernandez was later charged with resisting arrest. He, too, is now suing the department.
Adding fuel to the media fire, Bajraktarevic’s Instagram and Reddit profiles show provocative photos, some captioned “Thick police officer” and others showing her in revealing outfits during vacations.
Critics argue her online activity may have influenced the NYPD’s decision, while supporters say it has no bearing on her performance as an officer.
What began as a scandal involving a leaked image has spiraled into something far bigger. Allegations of s*xual harassment, institutional retaliation, and misuse of authority have now taken center stage. And with both Bajraktarevic and Hernandez pursuing legal action, the NYPD could be facing a lengthy courtroom battle.
One thing is clear: this is no longer just about a photo. It’s about a system where, according to Bajraktarevic, justice is harder to find when you are on the inside.
Feature Image Credit: Instargram @alisa_619
