The Post has learned that the former head of the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit put out his retirement papers just two days after bouncing back from the long-besieged department.
Inspector Michael King, who was described by the police leadership for his background as a forensic nurse upon his appointment in August 2020, applied for retirement on Friday, according to police sources.
The sources added that King’s last day in office will be March 30.
The 45-year-old inspector, who joined the NYPD in 2000, said the position at the top of the Special Victims Division was a “dream job” for him when he took over from Chief Judith Harrison.
But King’s 18-month tenure at the helm of the unit of 225 investigators has been marred by outdated issues and questions about his leadership.
The department, which deals with sexual assault and child abuse cases, faced a backlash last year after an emotional city council hearing when a survivor detailed her “failed” investigation in which the unit tried to stick her on the bill to be tested for rape drugs. .
Advocates and police sources had previously complained to The Post that King, who had never worked as an investigator, had created too much paperwork for the understaffed unit and that he lacked the administrative and investigative skills to run the unit.
Former Department Chief Rodney Harrison also summoned the department chief over the cops’ shoddy paperwork during last year’s crime statistics meeting.
King, who previously ran the crime scene unit, was due to move to an undisclosed location in the Queens South patrol office, according to a police note sent on Thursday.
It is not yet known who will take over the department.
The NYPD did not immediately respond to comment.
Additional reporting by Tina Moore
.
