In a bizarre incident that has raised eyebrows within the NYPD, an officer was allegedly ordered to remove the tinted windows from his mother’s car behind a Manhattan precinct, using unconventional methods like a blow dryer and acetone. The unusual event unfolded on October 4, 2024, and has sparked debate over the enforcement of vehicle laws for NYPD officers and their personal vehicles.
Police Officer Adam Benarafa, who works at the Midtown North Precinct, reported the incident to the Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) after he was allegedly forced to comply with an order to strip the tint from his mother’s car. The car in question—a red 2018 Honda Accord—was parked outside the precinct and had its window tints forcibly removed by a fellow officer under direct orders from the precinct’s commanding officers.
A Day at the Precinct Turns Bizarre
According to an internal NYPD report, Officer Benarafa’s ordeal began on October 4 when he was confronted by his superiors about the heavily tinted windows on the Honda Accord, a vehicle he regularly drives to work. The tints were not just on the side windows but also on the front windshield, which violates New York State’s Vehicle and Traffic Law. The law prohibits any windshield or front side windows from being excessively darkened, a rule that applies to civilian and law enforcement vehicles alike.
Officer Benarafa alleges that Capt. Allen Kirmss and Sgt. Constantin Angelopoulos, both senior officers at the Midtown North Precinct, approached him during his shift and demanded that the tints be removed immediately. Citing orders from Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Robert Gault, the officers insisted that the car be taken to the back of the precinct’s lot so the tints could be stripped on the spot.
As the incident unfolded, the NYPD’s commitment to ensuring that officers themselves follow traffic laws became glaringly evident. Precinct commanders have been under increasing pressure to guarantee that personal vehicles operated by NYPD personnel do not violate any vehicle regulations. However, the enforcement of such laws took a peculiar turn in this case, with officers using makeshift tools and non-standard methods to remove the tint from a fellow officer’s car.
Removing Tints in the Parking Lot
Benarafa complied with the order, driving the vehicle to the back of the station house. What happened next surprised him. Sgt. Angelopoulos, along with another officer, was instructed to carry out the task of removing the tints. Benarafa gave $10 to one of the officers, who was sent to purchase acetone—a chemical commonly used as a solvent. Upon returning, Sgt. Angelopoulos reportedly used a hand-held blow dryer and the acetone to manually remove the tints from the car’s windows. The surreal nature of this makeshift removal process led Benarafa to report the incident to Internal Affairs.
While window tints are a common modification for many drivers, they are also subject to strict regulation under New York State law. The Vehicle and Traffic Law prohibits any window tinting that blocks more than 30% of visible light, especially on windshields and front side windows. Despite the legality of the regulation, the execution of this particular enforcement raised serious questions within the department. Was this an overreach of power or a necessary act of compliance?
Tensions Over Personal Vehicle Compliance
This incident underscores a growing tension within the NYPD regarding the enforcement of vehicle regulations for personal cars driven by officers. Many precinct commanders are now under intense scrutiny to ensure that all officers comply with state traffic laws, including those that govern personal vehicles used to travel to and from work.
As NYPD officers are tasked with enforcing the law, their own conduct—both on and off-duty—must be beyond reproach. This extends to how they maintain their personal vehicles. The department’s internal emphasis on compliance with vehicle laws, particularly regarding window tints, is an attempt to ensure that officers lead by example. But the question remains: was stripping the tints from Benarafa’s car in this fashion truly necessary, or did it reflect an abuse of authority?
Reporting the Incident
On October 9, Benarafa and his mother walked into the 50th Precinct in the Bronx to file a formal complaint about the situation. According to the report he filed, the removal of the tints was done without his consent, and the manner in which it was carried out left him feeling humiliated.
CLICK HERE to buy your copy of Before the Badge by retired cop Dominick Izzo
Benarafa detailed the events to Internal Affairs Bureau officers, describing how he had no choice but to hand over the vehicle to be altered on the spot. He also highlighted the unusual request for a fellow officer to purchase acetone and the use of a blow dryer to peel the tints from the windows. His report alleges that the entire situation was ordered and overseen by Capt. Kirmss and Sgt. Angelopoulos, both of whom were following directives from Deputy Inspector Gault.
The Broader Issue of Enforcement
While the incident may seem trivial at first glance, it speaks to a broader issue within the NYPD. How far should department leaders go in enforcing laws on their own officers, especially in situations where the infraction is minor and can be remedied through standard procedures, such as a ticket or warning? Is it appropriate for commanding officers to order immediate compliance in ways that deviate from standard practices?
The situation also raises concerns about internal discipline within the department. Officer Benarafa’s decision to report the incident to Internal Affairs suggests that he felt the actions taken against him were unfair, if not downright abusive. The case now sits with the Internal Affairs Bureau, and it remains to be seen whether any disciplinary action will be taken against the officers involved.
Conclusion: An Unusual Incident Sparks Debate
The removal of window tints from Officer Benarafa’s mother’s car may seem like an odd and isolated event, but it highlights a significant issue within the NYPD: the enforcement of laws on officers themselves. The incident raises questions about power dynamics, compliance, and whether the punishment fit the alleged crime. As the investigation into this incident continues, it serves as a reminder that even those who enforce the law are not exempt from following it—though the method of enforcement should always be fair and just.
I want to know what you think!
Send me your views, thoughts or what’s on your mind and we will feature on our newsletter or show!
Email to [email protected] OR
Leave a text, voice note or voicemail for the show on what your thoughts are at 708-982-0974
Connect with me on Spreely Social CLICK HERE to Check out Spreely Social
And don’t forget to watch us LIVE weekdays at 1p est! CLICK HERE to Watch The Rants of Izzo Show!
-Izzo
