By: Hal C Clarke

Officer Edward Donzelli, a 30-year-old veteran of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), has found himself embroiled in a distressing legal battle. He has filed a notice of claim against the city seeking $5 million in damages, alleging harassment and bullying by Dr. John Santucci, an NYPD doctor. The incidents are said to have occurred when Donzelli took sick leave due to a chronic stomach condition and a hip injury sustained while on duty, NY Post reported.

These claims shed light on a history of harassment allegations against Dr. Santucci, raising concerns about the treatment of officers seeking medical leave within the NYPD.

According to court documents, Officer Donzelli began experiencing demeaning and intimidating interactions with Dr. Santucci after he took extended leave for his health conditions, the NY Post explained.

Donzelli, who had served the force for seven years, sought medical attention for ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and a hip injury that required surgery after an emotionally disturbed person kicked a door into him in July the previous year.

However, instead of approving his request for sick leave, Dr. Santucci allegedly compelled Donzelli to return to work immediately and even accused him of feigning his illnesses. This lack of empathy and support added to Donzelli’s distress, leaving him feeling harassed and unsupported during his time of physical recovery.

Feeling frustrated and unsupported, Donzelli’s complaints extended beyond his medical issues to Dr. Santucci’s conduct. It was after his cousin, an employee in the Staten Island Medical Division, heard staff allegedly making derogatory comments about Donzelli’s case and mocking his voice that he decided to file a complaint with the Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB). Sadly, instead of receiving a fair response, Donzelli claims he faced retaliation from the NYPD.

He asserts that the department subjected him to a series of dubious command disciplines. Among these was an audit, false accusations of failing to wear his body-worn camera during an incident in July the previous year, and allegations of not providing correct paperwork for his physical therapy. These command disciplines culminated in departmental charges being issued against him in June of the following year.

Feeling trapped and targeted, Officer Donzelli filed a notice of claim on July 11, seeking $5 million in damages for what he perceives as the NYPD’s wrongful treatment and retaliation against him for raising concerns about Dr. Santucci’s behavior. He maintains that he was unfairly transferred to the Health and Wellness Section of the NYPD on July 25, 2022, following the culmination of the departmental charges.

Amidst all this turmoil, Officer Donzelli found himself on the receiving end of disturbing comments from colleagues within the 121st Precinct in Staten Island. A lieutenant reportedly told him that he was on the “naughty list,” while another employee attributed the department’s reaction to Donzelli’s sick record, which allegedly annoyed his superiors.

Throughout his ordeal, Donzelli continued to suffer from health issues and underwent surgery on his hip in December 2022. Despite being on leave, he claimed that he was forced to resume visits with Dr. Santucci, who allegedly threatened to place him on forced disability retirement, despite the likelihood of a full recovery.

To protect himself and provide evidence of Dr. Santucci’s alleged confrontational behavior, Donzelli began recording their interactions during appointments. In one instance, Dr. Santucci reportedly made insensitive remarks, dismissing Donzelli’s ulcerative colitis as “not cancer”