Police station adviser resigns over controversial commander’s promotion

The Post has learned that a longtime Brooklyn city councilman has resigned in protest of the promotion of controversial commander John Mastronardi.

Joe Gonzalez, an activist who has served on the Precinct 79 community council for over 15 years, said he was “heartbroken” that Mastronardi was promoted to deputy chief On Friday.

“Mastronardi’s promotion sends a HORRIBLE message,” he wrote in a text message to department head Jeff Madry that fell into the hands of The Post. “He attacked a citizen on video, inflicting bodily harm. I am in deep pain. I feel like Maddry and the NYPD let us down. I can no longer support Maddry and the NYPD.”

“It’s especially frustrating,” Gonzalez told The Post by phone. “The things he did. I just do not understand”.

He even approached Mayor Eric Adams but was unable to influence the decision.

Gonzalez said police officials have been calling activists for weeks to soften Mastronardi’s promotion.

Mastronardi was transferred from the 75th Precinct in East New York almost two years ago following a petition by the Reverend Kevin McCall, who argued that the commander lacked “effective leadership that could help improve the quality of life for the East New York community.”

During the pandemic, a video surfaced showing Mastronardi, unmasked, watching his policemen disperse a group of men for failing to maintain social distancing.

But since then, McCall’s tune has changed, and on Tuesday he told the Post he wasn’t worried as Maddry and Patrol Chief John Chell would be kept in line.

Police precinct councils are made up of volunteers who advise their local precincts on issues, and under Mayor Bill de Blasio they had to select their new commanders from a small pool of candidates.