NYPD detective faces disciplinary trial for alleged time abuse while caring for ailing mother during duty hours.

A New York Police Department (NYPD) detective faces a disciplinary trial beginning Wednesday, as questions arise over an unusual arrangement that allowed her to care for her terminally ill mother for nearly a year while receiving full pay, including overtime. Detective Jaenice Smith, 51, claims that her mother, Barbara Ann Smith, a respected community leader in Bushwick, was central to the approval of this arrangement, allegedly sanctioned by Assistant Chief Scott Henderson, who commanded Brooklyn North at the time.

The NYPD, however, contends that Smith did not have formal approval for the arrangement and has charged her with “time abuse,” official misconduct, and falsifying documents. The department has pursued the return of approximately 9,000 in salary that Smith received during this period.

According to Smith, the arrangement was made out of necessity for her mother, who dedicated 28 years to the NYPD’s 84th Precinct Community Council. In her defense, she references a text exchange from March 2024 wherein she informed Henderson about her mother’s declining health and he instructed her not to worry about work, indicating his awareness of her situation.

The controversy surrounding this case, initially revealed in July, has been a factor in Henderson’s retirement, which occurred while he was under investigation by Internal Affairs. Henderson is expected to be a witness during Smith’s trial.

City officials have not publicly commented on Smith’s case, stating only that the disciplinary process is ongoing. Smith, who joined the NYPD in 2005 and became a detective in 2017, had primarily worked as an executive assistant to several high-ranking officers. She contends that when her mother’s illness worsened, she sought an accommodation through various channels within the NYPD, including Henderson.

During the 11 months that Smith reportedly cared for her mother until her death in December and three additional months on bereavement leave, she earned a total compensation of 5,380 in fiscal 2024, including overtime pay. In fiscal 2025, she earned 4,244, again including overtime.

The investigation into her case was prompted by an anonymous tip alleging that Smith was not reporting to her official assignment in Community Affairs. Consequently, she was reassigned to desk duty and later transferred to the Queens Courts Section. Although she became eligible for a full pension in July 2024, the ongoing disciplinary proceedings have affected her employment status.

In September, the NYPD proposed a plea deal in which Smith would pay ,000 and resign; she rejected the offer. Smith’s attorney has since filed a discrimination complaint with the NYPD, arguing that she was simply exercising her rights to caregiving and medical accommodations as stipulated by federal, state, and local laws.

Smith asserts that her professional reputation and her mother’s legacy are at stake, stating that her mother was a significant influence in the community. She hopes to restore her standing and achieve justice amid this tumultuous period.