NYPD official booted from post after public fight with commish — but he’s back hours later

A top NYPD official was booted behind the scenes from his post after a heated public clash with the interim police commissioner — but he was officially back in hours later after media inquiries on the ouster.

The department's Chief of Staff Tarik Sheppard was removed after he and interim Commissioner Tom Donlon's kerfuffle at a botched photo op at the New York City Marathon, sources told The Post.

But after media inquiries about the latest turmoil in the administration of embattled Mayor Eric Adams, officials claimed nothing had changed for Sheppard. Sheppard also served as deputy commissioner of public information, a civilian position that deals with media inquiries.

"The mayor is furious about this whole story," one source told The Post. "With all that's going on with his [federal] criminal investigation, he does not need to ask questions about infighting in the police department."

"Yesterday, he called the argument a 'spousal fight,'" the source continued. "The mayor did not want another story today saying Sheppard was out after he called the incident a spousal fight [because] he would've looked worse than he already does."

City Hall's back-and-forth appears to be just another front in a savage battle between Donlon, a respected former FBI official appointed to lead a department besieged by federal investigations, and Sheppard, the chief of staff appointed by his pal the mayor over Donlon's own objections.

The power struggle comes as the Adams administration faces federal investigations into alleged corruption and influence-peddling — including a historic indictment of Hizzoner himself, who stands accused of taking bribes and defrauding the city out of $10 million in public campaign funds, charges he denies.

One police source said the trouble is of Adams' own making.

"This is sad," the source said. "The mayor has allowed the NYPD to become a soap opera, and he is the doddering grandfather."

But the Sunday dust-up seemed to be the last straw for the 71-year-old Donlon, who already had clashed with the cop who had been made his chief of staff against his wishes, sources said.

The public fracas unfolded just before the marathon when Sheppard forced his way into a group shot with the NYPD running club.

In the photo, Donlon's scowling face is perched between the shoulders of Sheppard and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry at the marathon's Staten Island kickoff spot.

Sources say Sheppard pushed his way into the pic, which was shared on X by a top police official, and shunted the interim top cop into the background.

The commish told Sheppard to scram, and nudged him in the arm — a diss that led to a shouting match that only ended when NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey stepped in and physically separated them, sources said.

Adams downplayed the fracas — which unfolded in full view of marathon spectators — and compared it to a married couple's squabble.

"Just because you have an argument with your spouse, your child, your business partner, doesn't mean you don't love them," he said Monday. "If that was a signature of you don't care for the other person in your life, then we're all in trouble."

But it seemed inevitable that Donlon and Sheppard were headed for divorce — especially after a meeting Sheppard had last week in the commish's office in which he told everyone that he was running the office, sources said.

At the gathering, which Sheppard held while Donlon was out, Sheppard told the others that if they wanted anything done — promotions, transfers or the like — they'd have to go through him, sources said.

And if they didn't, they'd be transferred out, they added.

"The mayor totally created this chaotic situation," a former NYPD supervisor with more than 40 years of experience claimed Monday.

"This is the most disrespectful act towards a police commissioner I've ever seen. The mayor who calls himself an ex-cop should be ashamed of himself for allowing this to happen in the NYPD."

Adams said he spoke with both Donlon and Sheppard after the argument about his expectations for how they should show "decorum," but wouldn't elaborate.

Sheppard — a known friend of Adams — was slated to return to working as the deputy commissioner of public information, sources said.

He did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

But DCPI issued a statement saying, essentially, nothing had changed.

"He is acting Chief of Staff and Deputy Commissioner of Public Information," the department said.

The ongoing internal brawls are the result of an NYPD shakeup following federal agents' raid on former Commissioner Edward Caban's home in September, which led to his resignation.

Adams appointed Donlon to lead the department through the storm.

But the decision rankled many top NYPD officials, including Maddrey and Sheppard, who were largely given free rein under Caban, sources said.

The interim leader laid down the law during an early meeting — but the disgruntled brass launched a behind-the-scenes pressure campaign that prompted the dismissal of Donlon's executive team, including his former chief of staff, sources said.

Amid the chaos, Sheppard ascended from deputy commissioner of public affairs to acting chief of staff — a move that raised eyebrows within the NYPD, as many police officials learned about it only from social media, sources have said.