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Is DeCoatsworth crazy?

Or maybe the disgraced cop thinks he is a victim of the system.

IS DISGRACED former police officer Richard DeCoatsworth crazy, or crazy like a fox?

Probably a little bit of both, but more of the former.

Since his departure from the police force, he's been sliding down life's banister, landing in the basement facing charges of rape, sexual assault, intent to possess or distribute drugs, human trafficking, promoting prostitution, witness intimidation and related offenses.

In refusing to take a court-ordered mental-health exam, he irritated trial judge Charles Ehrlich, but that shouldn't matter if DeCoatsworth turns down a plea arrangement and opts for a trial. The judge will have to put his feelings aside.

DeCoatsworth will return to court on - oh, no - April Fools' Day, and I'm betting he'll roll the dice and demand his day in court.

He's said that before, to me, after the city spent $15,000 to settle a lawsuit brought against him in 2011 by former Daily News contributing columnist Marc Lamont Hill.

Hill claimed that DeCoatsworth physically abused him during a postmidnight car stop in Logan.

DeCoatsworth denied it and was backed up by his partner, Robbi Huff, in a lengthy interview with me in August 2011. At that time, DeCoatsworth felt betrayed by the Police Department for not allowing him to testify, giving him his day in court.

For the record, most suits against police are settled out of court. The city finds it cheaper and less risky than going to trial where a runaway jury can write a check to rival the Publishers Clearing House.

By settling, DeCoatsworth felt the city and his department made a tacit concession that he was guilty and the media followed by turning the narrative of a hero cop into a rogue cop.

He was bitter about that.

Having met and talked with DeCoatsworth at some length, I know he's capable of charm, courtesy and humility, blended with the tough talk sometimes needed to be a good cop.

If you want a clean and easy job, he said, "you should have been a florist."

He didn't get shot in the face as a rookie by hanging back and playing it safe.

As to the eight civilian complaints he piled up in five years on the force, "Being proactive, not just responding, but trying to prevent crime, they will draw complaints," he told me.

During his time on the force - and I have heard complaints from civilians about his rough treatment of them - I believe that DeCoatsworth actually thought of himself as a good cop - maybe aggressive, but you have to be tough.

The accolades, peaking with being Michelle Obama's guest at the 2009 State of the Union, maybe got into the young man's head, turning fearlessness into ferocity and a sense of invincibility.

Right now, with the "sweetheart" (according to lawyer Chuck Peruto) plea bargain on the table - maybe no jail time other than what he's already served on a greatly reduced laundry list of charges - he'd be crazy to spurn the plea arrangement and stand trial, which would mean facing all charges.

Just as he believes that he was a good cop, he may believe that he is not guilty, and he really wants his long-denied day in court. If that's how he thinks, that's what he will do.

And live to regret it.

On Twitter: @StuBykofsky

Blog: ph.ly/Byko

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