A retired NYPD detective’s explosive memoir pulls no punches, exposing the chaos and disrespect she claims plagued Bill de Blasio’s administration. Katrina Brownlee, a first-grade detective who survived a brutal attack, details her time on the former mayor’s security detail in “And Then Came the Blues.” Her account, reported on August 12, 2025, paints a grim picture of leadership that conservatives might argue epitomizes progressive mismanagement.
Brownlee’s memoir reveals her harrowing personal story and her clashes with de Blasio’s team, accusing the former mayor of fostering a culture of insecurity and disdain for the NYPD. She joined the NYPD after surviving a vicious assault by her ex-fiancé, a corrections officer, who shot at her 10 times while she was pregnant. Rising through the ranks to retire as a first-grade detective in 2021, her career was marked by resilience, only to be tested by what she describes as a dysfunctional administration.
Before her NYPD days, Brownlee endured a nightmare that would have broken most. Her ex-fiancé’s attack left her for dead, yet she channeled that trauma into a career serving New Yorkers. This grit makes her critique of de Blasio’s leadership all the more compelling, as it comes from a woman who knows sacrifice.
Brownlee’s ascent to first-grade detective was no small feat, showcasing her determination to overcome personal tragedy. Her memoir doesn’t just dwell on her survival; it highlights her commitment to protecting the city, including time spent on de Blasio’s security detail. Yet, her service was met with what she calls a mayor who “generally did not like police officers.”
“I sensed that the mayor generally did not like police officers,” Brownlee told the New York Post, a sentiment that resonates with conservative critiques of progressive leaders who seem to undermine law enforcement. Her words suggest a mayor more concerned with optics than supporting those who risked their lives daily. It’s the kind of disconnect that fuels distrust in urban governance.
One incident Brownlee recounts involves de Blasio’s reaction to a uniformed officer briefly removing his hat at City Hall. “He called the officer’s sergeant to complain,” she said, describing it as a petty power trip. Such anecdotes paint de Blasio as a leader obsessed with control, a trait conservatives often attribute to left-leaning bureaucrats who prioritize ego over efficacy.
“[De Blasio] was so insecure about his status that he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else around him having power,” Brownlee claimed. This quote cuts deep, suggesting a mayor who stifled leadership to prop up his image. It’s a classic progressive pitfall: preaching empowerment while hoarding influence.
Brownlee also aimed at de Blasio’s staff, describing them as “white millennials” who disrespected him. This observation, while sharp, aligns with conservative gripes about administrations staffed with ideologues more interested in signaling virtue than governing effectively. Her critique spares no one, yet it’s delivered with the precision of someone who’s seen the system’s flaws up close.
Her time on the security detail wasn’t all tense, though. Brownlee recalls shopping with de Blasio, discussing her annual Christmas party, after which he granted her every Christmas off. This fleeting moment of humanity feels like an outlier in a memoir otherwise dripping with frustration.
Brownlee’s tenure on Chirlane McCray’s security detail ended abruptly, reportedly because McCray simply “didn’t like” her. “‘She doesn’t like you. It is what it is,” her commanding officer told her, per the New York Post. The blunt dismissal reeks of the kind of personal politics conservatives decry in progressive circles.
“Chirlane was a fraud to her core,” Brownlee said, a scathing indictment that suggests McCray’s public persona didn’t match her actions. Such hypocrisy, if true, is the sort of thing that grates on voters tired of polished facades. Brownlee’s anger at being sidelined speaks to a broader frustration with leaders who play favorites.
“I was angry for months at myself and at the New Yorkers who put Bill and Chirlane in office,” Brownlee admitted. Her disillusionment mirrors the conservative view that urban voters too often fall for charismatic promises, only to get burned by incompetent governance. It’s a sentiment that hits hard in a city craving stability.
Despite her criticisms, Brownlee offers a nuanced take, noting de Blasio could be “genuinely caring.” “I realized he could be someone I wouldn’t mind going out for wine with when I retired,” she said, hinting at a complexity that conservatives might grudgingly respect. But one kind gesture doesn’t erase systemic failures.
Another example of de Blasio’s inconsistency came at his annual holiday party for the security detail. “He would make a speech about how important we were… but the very next day he wouldn’t even say good morning,” Brownlee said. This hypocrisy fuels the conservative argument that progressive leaders often talk a big game but fail to deliver respect.
“He was incapable of managing his staff in a way that encouraged their growth,” Brownlee asserted, a damning critique of leadership that conservatives might say typifies the left’s obsession with control over competence. Her memoir, reported on August 12, 2025, stands as a bold testament to her survival and a warning about the perils of weak leadership. It’s a story that demands attention, especially for those who value law enforcement and accountability.
