IN RE: Police Officer Annette COTTINGHAM (2004)

Determination of respondent Police Commissioner, dated July 17, 2002, which dismissed petitioner from her position as police officer, unanimously confirmed, the petition denied and the proceeding (transferred to this Court by order of Supreme Court, New York County [Rosalyn Richter, J.], entered April 10, 2003) dismissed, without costs.

The administrative determination that petitioner knowingly associated with a person she had reason to believe was engaged in criminal activity was supported by substantial evidence, including, in particular, petitioner's own testimony in her official interview and at the administrative hearing (see Matter of Richardson v. Safir, 258 A.D.2d 328, 685 N.Y.S.2d 209 [1999] ).   No basis exists to disturb respondent's credibility findings (Matter of Berenhaus v. Ward, 70 N.Y.2d 436, 443-44, 522 N.Y.S.2d 478, 517 N.E.2d 193 [1987] ).

We have considered petitioner's argument that the penalty of dismissal is unduly harsh, and find it to be without merit.