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Mount Vernon mayor fires city's top cop

The Navy veteran sworn in as police commissioner last year is out.

News 12 Staff

Mar 16, 2019, 1:33 PM

Updated 2,106 days ago

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Mount Vernon mayor fires city's top cop
The Navy veteran sworn in as police commissioner last year is out.
Mayor Richard Thomas has fired Shawn Harris, who has served as police commissioner for the city of Mount Vernon for 14 months.
One month ago, Harris fired his only deputy police commissioner, Joe Spiezio, who reportedly had a close relationship with the mayor.
Spiezio was let go after he was ticketed in New Rochelle for driving on a suspended out-of-state license.
"Oh, I did see it coming, because I know who I'm dealing with," Harris says. "The mayor feels that he wants to go in a different direction, and I'm not part of that direction."
Thomas released a statement saying the decision to fire Harris was made earlier this week. The mayor has appointed Mount Vernon Police Lieutenant Robert Scott as police commissioner, effective immediately.