Disabled father asks Attorney General to review past cases tied to officer’s record
WESTCHESTER, N.Y. — Former New Rochelle Police Lieutenant Sean Kane, who was demoted following an internal disciplinary investigation tied to the high-profile May 2024 arrest of Irvin Harper, has secured a new law enforcement position with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, prompting renewed calls for state officials to review cases connected to his disciplinary record.
Multiple reports state Sean Kane resigned from the New Rochelle Police Department shortly after being demoted from lieutenant to police officer in connection with the arrest of Ivin Harper, a Black former New Rochelle resident whose charges were later dismissed after questions arose about the evidence and body-camera footage. Reporting indicates Kane accumulated multiple command disciplines before the Harper incident.
A Westchester County grand jury declined to indict Kane in December 2024 after reviewing evidence related to the incident. The New Rochelle Police Department subsequently continued its internal disciplinary review, which resulted in Kane’s demotion
“The disciplinary proceeding against Lieutenant Sean Kane has been resolved. After consideration and full review of the matter, Kane has been demoted two ranks to the position of Police Officer. Police Officer Kane is presently assigned to re-training, re-orientation, and review of all department rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Upon completion of his re-training, future assignment will be determined at the discretion of the Police Commissioner. The New Rochelle Police Department maintains the highest standards of professionalism and accountability. The resolution of this case is consistent with those principles. This is a personnel matter; the City will have no further statement.” New Rochelle Police Commissioner Neil Reynolds said in a statement to Black Westchester.
“Body-camera footage reviewed by multiple news organizations appeared to show Kane handling a baggie containing a white substance before later reporting that drugs had been recovered beneath Harper’s vehicle.”
A New Job After a High-Profile Demotion
Kane’s move to Putnam County has intensified questions about whether officers disciplined for serious misconduct can leave one department and continue working elsewhere without a public review of their record or the cases in which they played a role.
Public records also show that Kane had accumulated multiple command disciplines before the Harper incident, including reprimands and loss of leave days tied to failures to appear in court, file charges, and follow department procedures.
Disabled Father Seeks Attorney General Review
Marc Fishman, a disabled father who says Kane was involved in his own 2018 arrest in Westchester County, has submitted a formal request to the Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office asking the state to examine whether Kane’s law enforcement history warrants a broader review.
“Sean Kane’s record raises a basic question: how many warning signs does it take before someone reviews the cases connected to that officer?” Fishman said. “If the public only learns about these problems after a scandal, the oversight system is already failing.”
Documents obtained by Black Westchester show a pattern of sustained disciplinary findings involving procedural violations dating back to 2010. Those records include failures to appear in court, two separate incidents involving the failure to timely file criminal charges, vehicle-related disciplinary matters, and a violation involving the handling of recovered property. Disciplinary penalties ranged from letters of reprimand to the loss of leave time.
Fishman’s request cites prior disciplinary matters, including complaint numbers 2010-51, 2012-32, 2013-16, 2013-42, and 2013-49, and asks state officials to determine whether cases involving Kane should be reviewed for potential due process, disclosure, or accountability concerns.
Broader Scrutiny in New Rochelle
Kane’s case comes amid renewed scrutiny of police oversight in New Rochelle and across Westchester County. Residents and civil-rights groups have repeatedly questioned whether misconduct complaints are reviewed independently, whether disciplinary histories are meaningfully considered before officers are promoted or reassigned, and whether repeat warning signs trigger intervention before a public scandal.
Those concerns are not limited to Kane. In 2025, reporting on an Attorney General review found that former New Rochelle officer Lane Schlesinger had engaged in a pattern of misconduct involving abuse of authority after years of prior complaints and discipline.
“People are asking a simple question,” Fishman said. “If the warning signs were there for years, why does serious review only happen after a public scandal?”
Requests for Comment Not Returned
Requests for comment from the Attorney General’s office and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office regarding whether Kane’s record or related cases will be reviewed were not returned at the time of this release.
Recent media reports have raised serious questions regarding Kane’s demotion, resignation from the New Rochelle Police Department, and subsequent employment with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. On May 29, 2026 Fishman’s representative requested that the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office review whether former New Rochelle Police Department Lieutenant Sean Kane’s law enforcement record reflects a pattern of serious misconduct warranting independent examination.
