An NYPD captain who ran a Brooklyn precinct was arrested Thursday on charges of attempted rape and other sex crimes after authorities say he subjected a female subordinate to months of escalating harassment, including telling her he wanted to "make biracial babies" with her, the New York Post reported.

Captain Yosef Berde, 46, who commanded the 72nd Precinct in Sunset Park, faces charges of attempted rape in the first degree, forcible touching, and sex abuse in the third degree. He was taken into custody by the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau and arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court.

The case strikes at one of the most basic obligations of any police department: that officers, especially commanders, do not prey on the people who serve under them. The charges, if proven, would represent one of the most serious criminal allegations against an active NYPD precinct commander in recent memory.

A pattern of alleged harassment

The complainant is a female NYPD officer who worked under Berde's command at the 72nd Precinct. She alleges that Berde's conduct began with inappropriate comments and escalated over a period of months into physical aggression.

Among the allegations: Berde told the officer he wanted to "make biracial babies" with her. The New York Post reported that the remarks were part of a broader pattern of unwanted sexual comments directed at the subordinate officer.

The alleged conduct did not stop at words. The criminal complaint states that Berde attempted to rape the officer on at least one occasion. He also allegedly engaged in forcible touching and other acts of sexual abuse. The charges span multiple incidents, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the case.

The victim reported the conduct through internal channels. The Internal Affairs Bureau opened an investigation, which led to Berde's arrest.

Arraignment and department response

Berde was arraigned Thursday in Brooklyn Criminal Court. A judge issued an order of protection on behalf of the complainant. Berde was released, and his next court date has been scheduled.

The NYPD suspended Berde without pay following his arrest. A department spokesperson confirmed that Berde had been relieved of his command at the 72nd Precinct before the arrest, though the spokesperson did not specify when or why that reassignment occurred.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the arrest in a statement.

"The conduct alleged here is reprehensible and a profound betrayal of the trust placed in every commanding officer. We will not tolerate it."

The case lands at a time when public trust in law enforcement leadership faces pressure from multiple directions. Another NYPD officer was recently accused of sexually assaulting a Bronx woman following a traffic stop, underscoring concerns about how officers wield authority over vulnerable individuals.

Berde's career and rank

Berde joined the NYPD in 2004 and rose through the ranks over more than two decades. He held the rank of captain, which placed him in charge of an entire precinct, one of the department's most consequential field-command positions. Precinct commanders oversee patrol operations, investigations, and personnel within their geographic boundaries.

The 72nd Precinct covers Sunset Park and parts of surrounding neighborhoods in southwestern Brooklyn. The precinct serves a diverse, densely populated community.

Berde's attorney, John Arlia, told the New York Post that his client "maintains his innocence and looks forward to his day in court." Arlia did not elaborate on the defense's theory of the case.

The charges and what they carry

Attempted rape in the first degree is a Class B violent felony in New York. A conviction carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in state prison and a mandatory minimum of five years. Forcible touching is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. Sex abuse in the third degree is also a Class B misdemeanor.

The felony charge is the most consequential. If convicted, Berde would face mandatory prison time and would be required to register as a sex offender. He would also lose his pension, a financial consequence that carries enormous weight for any career officer.

Investigators will need to determine whether additional victims exist. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether other officers or civilians have come forward with similar allegations against Berde. In cases involving supervisors accused of abusing their authority, additional complainants sometimes emerge after an arrest becomes public.

The case also raises questions about what, if anything, the department knew before the formal complaint. Across the country, police departments have faced scrutiny when internal misconduct by leadership goes undetected or unaddressed for extended periods.

A broader pattern in law enforcement

Berde's arrest is not an isolated incident in the broader landscape of law enforcement leadership facing serious criminal charges. An Ohio police chief was recently indicted on 70 felony counts of child sex abuse, a case that shocked even veteran observers of police misconduct.

These cases share a common thread: individuals entrusted with extraordinary public authority who allegedly exploited that authority for criminal purposes. The rank of the accused does not diminish the seriousness of the charges. If anything, it amplifies the breach of public trust.

The Brooklyn District Attorney's office is handling the prosecution. Prosecutors have not indicated whether they plan to present the case to a grand jury for indictment or proceed on the current criminal complaint. In felony cases of this nature, a grand jury presentation is standard procedure in New York.

Berde remains free on release conditions. The order of protection bars him from contacting the complainant. His suspension without pay means he currently draws no salary from the city.

The NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau investigation remains open. When high-ranking law enforcement officials face criminal charges, the internal and criminal investigations often proceed on parallel tracks, with the administrative case potentially yielding termination even before any trial.

What comes next

The case will move through Brooklyn Criminal Court in the coming weeks. If prosecutors seek a grand jury indictment on the attempted rape charge, Berde could face a superseding indictment that carries additional weight at trial.

For the complainant, the legal process is only beginning. Testifying against a commanding officer in open court carries professional and personal risks that few outside law enforcement fully appreciate. The order of protection provides a legal barrier, but the dynamics of a paramilitary organization like the NYPD make whistleblowing inherently fraught.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether Berde's conduct was known to anyone else in the chain of command before the formal complaint. That question may prove as important as the criminal case itself.

A badge and a command do not place anyone above the law. When they become tools of alleged predation, the system must answer for how long it looked the other way.