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Longtime PBA President Patrick Lynch stepping down
Patrick Lynch, the longtime head of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, is stepping down when his term expires in June.
NEW YORK - Patrick Lynch, the President of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, has announced that he will not seek re-election when his current term expires in June.
The announcement comes shortly after the union agreed on a "historic deal" with city hall to end a seven-year period during which NYPD officers worked without a formal contract.
RELATED: City reaches 'historic' agreement with police union
The eight-year, $5.5B deal includes retroactive raises and will increase starting salaries.
Lynch, who is 59, will reach his mandatory NYPD retirement age in 2026, a year after the current contract expires.
"This decision is part of a philosophy I have long held: A rider cannot switch horses in the middle of a battle, and the PBA must not change leadership in the middle of a contract fight," Lynch said in a statement. "To remain true to my principles, I must allow the change to begin now."
Lynch first joined the NYPD in 1984 and is the PBA's longest-serving president.