NYPD Chief of Patrol cleared by department’s watchdog panel over arrest of photojournalist at protest

The NYPD’s top uniformed cop was cleared last week of abuse of authority when he ordered his subordinates to “lock up” a credentialed photojournalist during a protest last year, The Post has learned.

Chief of Patrol John Chell was exonerated by the NYPD’s watchdog panel, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, last Thursday following an investigation into the arrest of freelance photographer Stephanie Keith during a May 2023 protest.

Chell was charged with abuse of authority after he was captured on video demanding two NYPD community affairs officers to “lock her up,” referring to Keith while she photographed a protest over the chokehold death of Jordan Neely.

Chief of Patrol John Chell was exonerated by the NYPD’s watchdog panel, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, last Thursday. Paul Martinka

Keith was covering the rally outside the Broadway-Lafayette station in Manhattan when officers pounced on the demonstrators.

The award-winning shutterbug was walking with another photographer when high-ranking cops yelled, “Get on the sidewalk!”

Moments later, Chell grabbed Keith’s arm and delivered the “lock her up” command, according to footage of the encounter.

Photos from the scene show Keith being arrested and then walked by community affairs officers with her wrists handcuffed behind her back while her camera and official NYC press credential are clearly visible hanging from her neck.

When the two cops grabbed the photojournalist — whose work has appeared in the New York Times and Reuters — she said she shouted, “I’m press, I’m press. I’m a journalist. I’m press.”

“And they said, ‘No, you’re not, you’re arrested,” Keith previously told The Post.

Stephanie Keith was covering the Jordan Neely rally outside the Broadway-Lafayette station in Manhattan when officers pounced on the demonstrators. REUTERS

“It was completely traumatic,” she recalled of the arrest.

The CCRB’s investigative staff conducted “a thorough and impartial investigation” into the arrest after receiving multiple complaints, according to a June 20 letter revealing the board’s decision that was reviewed by The Post.

The watchdog found that Chell’s behavior fell “within department guidelines” — meaning the allegation occurred but is not considered misconduct under New York law and the NYPD patrol guide — the letter says.

Chell previously claimed that Keith had interfered in three arrests, which is why he demanded she be cuffed.

But Keith staunchly denied the allegation.

“I absolutely was not interfering with their arrests,” she told The Post at the time.

Chell previously claimed that Keith had interfered in three arrests, which is why he demanded she be cuffed. REUTERS

“If you look at the video, I don’t know what they’re talking about,” she added. “The press photographers always maintain a very respectful distance. We just want to get a photo of what’s going on. That’s all we want, to get a photo.”

The CCRB letter announcing the board’s decision on Chell’s charge does not state whether its team of investigators found evidence to suggest that Keith interfered with arrests.