Parks Worker Who Found Black Doll Hanging From Noose Claims Supervisors Tried To Cover It Up

A black doll was found hanging from a chain noose at the Parks Department's Bronx headquarterson December 20, 2011. The parks worker who found the doll hanging is claiming his supervisors tried to cover up the alleged hate crime before cops took over the probe. (Photo: NYC Park Advocates)

"We immediately reported this incident to the NYPD, " Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe said.

Delay in reporting it.

As A Walk In The Park first reported in December, the incident was not reported until 12:03 pm, more than three hours after the doll was first discovered by the Parks Department.

Several parks sources also strongly refuted the Commissioner's claim that the incident was "immediately reported" to the police.

"That's BS, they waited for hours," said a parks source at the scene. "They probably would have tried to sweep it under the rug if they could have."

Bronx

A CITY WORKER who found a black doll hanging from a noose at the Parks Department’s Bronx headquarters is claiming his supervisors tried to cover up the alleged hate crime before cops took over the probe, the Daily News has learned.

Anthony Crum leveled the allegations in a notice to sue the city for emotional distress filed this week with the city controller’s office.

Crum, who is part Shinnecock and Blackfoot American Indian, made the discovery on Dec. 20 — a baby doll hanging by the neck from a chain fashioned into a noose — and immediately reported it.

The notice states that Crum’s co-worker Fariz Ahmemulic “admitted to him and other employees that he hung the doll as a ‘joke.’ ” Crum, 50, contends two Parks Department supervisors allegedly told Ahmemulic to remove the doll, which he did, then put it back in the spot in the garage.

The NYPD was not notified for several hours while Parks enforcement officers took photos and conducted interviews of employees.

Crum said he became alarmed when supervisor Steve Saccomano claimed the doll had been hanging there for a week without complaint.

“That was an out-and-out lie,” Crum said, prompting his hiring of civil rights lawyer Eric Sanders. Ahmemulic and Saccomano could not be reached for comment.

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has apologized to Crum and offered him counseling. A spokeswoman for the Parks Department declined to comment on the notice of claim.

Sanders said Parks officials are aware of Ahmemulic’s alleged involvement and should have suspended him.

Crum still has not been interviewed by detectives from the NYPD hate crimes task force, either, Sanders said.

“This was not a joke,” Crum said. “It represents racism. It’s malicious.”

Read More:

Say Parks Dept. tried to hide noose incident

New York Daily News - January 6, 2012 - By John Marzulli

Parks Worker Arrested In Black Doll Noose Hate Crime Incident In Bronx

A Walk In The Park - January 12, 2012

Baby Doll In Noose Found Hanging In Bronx Park Headquarters-Hate Crime Being Investigated

A Walk In The Park - December 20, 2011 - By Geoffrey Croft