NYPD official who called Post reporter a fking scumbag files for retirement months after demotion

The former NYPD deputy commissioner in charge of public information — who once called a Post reporter a “f—king scumbag” when asked for comment — has called it quits.Tarik Sheppard, a 21-year veteran of New York’s Finest, who also was caught publicly scuffling with his boss during a photo op, filed for retirement on Friday, law enforcement sources said.He is due to leave the force next month.In December, Sheppard, 48, was demoted to assistant chief and commanding officer at the department’s Interagency Operations Division, records reviewed by The Post show.One law enforcement source called it “a downward move but a soft landing.”It’s unclear why he was demoted.A month earlier, however, Sheppard was caught tussling with his boss, then-Acting NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon, at the New York City Marathon, when the Sheppard tried to photo-bomb a group picture.Sources at the time said Donlon and Sheppard, then-chief of staff, had to be pulled apart.Sheppard raked in $276,588 in 2024, according to SeeThroughNY.A former commander of the 28th Precinct in Harlem, Sheppard was appointed deputy commissioner of public affairs — which deals directly with the media — by then-Police Commissioner Edward Caban in August 2023, and more than doubled the staff there from 40 to 86.The veteran cop also ruffled feathers when he booted the Big Apple press out of their traditional second-floor haunt at One Police Plaza and into a modular building outside.Sheppard’s rocky relationship with the media reached a fever pitch last year when he called The Post’s City Hall bureau chief a “f–king scumbag” after the reporter called a number for the wife of Chief of Patrol John Chell while trying to get comment about a federal investigation of city officials.Despite the controversy, Sheppard received several commendations for his police work over the years, including two awards for meritorious police Duty and one for excellent police duty, records show.The NYPD did not...