NYPD medic rushed cop with heart monitor back to duty, forcing officer to retire, latest lawsuit targeting doctor claims
- Girard Moscato, 57, suffered a heart attack and stroke from COVID in 2021
- He had a heart monitor fitted in May 2021 and returned to restricted duties
- Dr John Santucci rushed him to work in 2022 against cardiologist’s advice
An NYPD doctor fired a cop to full duty after he suffered a heart attack and stroke, forcing him out of the job, according to a bombshell new lawsuit.
The department’s Dr John Santucci reportedly told ex-officer Girard Moscato, 57, that he ‘didn’t care’ about his cardiologist’s recommendation to work part-time after he suffered two serious health problems in the year former.
Moscato said complications from COVID caused him to suffer a heart attack and stroke in February 2021, and he was still feeling the effects the following year.
The officer, who served the NYPD from June 2003, said he felt compelled to leave in 2022.
The longtime cop filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court seen by the New York Post. Santucci has not responded to the latest allegations – the third against him by an NYPD cop.
Dr John Santucci reportedly told ex-officer Girard Moscato, 57, that he “didn’t care” about his cardiologist’s recommendation to work part-time after suffering two serious health problems the previous year.
Moscato, who served the NYPD from June 2003, said he felt compelled to leave in 2022. The longtime cop filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court seen by the New York Post
The lawsuit describes how Moscato had a heart monitor fitted in May 2021, which forced him to take a step back from work for two months, before returning to restricted duties.
But in January 2022, Santucci forced him back to work, saying at the time he “didn’t care” about Moscato’s cardiologist’s recommendation to remain on limited duty, according to the case.
Moscato told the Post he begged the doctor, who he says returned him to full service because the NYPD is struggling to retain its officers.
Speaking of Santucci, he said: “I only saw this guy once.
“He basically went against what my cardiologist wrote in a letter that I should never have returned to duty.
“In my opinion, due to the hordes of cops leaving their posts, they are so few that they are looking to get everyone they can back on duty.”
Moscato’s lawsuit alleges he struggled so badly that he retired in early August 2022.
His attorney John Scola accused the NYPD of failing disabled officers.
“The NYPD is breaking the law when it fails to accommodate officers with disabilities,” Scola said.
“These failures not only harm hard-working, disabled officials like Officer Moscato, but will ultimately cost New York City taxpayers millions of dollars as they are responsible for footing the bill for the NYPD’s continued abuses.”
Santucci faces several other lawsuits from other embattled NYPD officers.
That includes a potential $5 million lawsuit filed by officer Edward Donzelli, 30, who claimed Santucci belittled him for taking sick leave.
NYPD officer Edward Donzelli, 30, claimed Santucci belittled him for taking sick leave
Donzelli first saw the doctor in November 2021 after suffering from ulcerative colitis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease and a right hip injury sustained at work that required surgery.
The cop said he requested sick leave, but Santucci allegedly “forced him back to work immediately” and accused him of “faking” his illnesses, according to his file.
Meanwhile, former NYPD cop Destiny McCann, 39, who suffered a stroke and two bouts of breast cancer, said she quit after being bullied by Santucci .
The former cop and Queens-born mother said Santucci began supervising her disability case in 2020.
“He really intimidated me,” McCann told the Post. “I’ve worked all these years and for him to push me away… I basically get pennies.”
