ALBANY – Embattled Troy police officer Dominick Comitale disparaged female witnesses, insulted the police chief of North Greenbush and said his Sept. 8 arrest was "bullsh_" during a profanity-laced recording released Monday by the lawyer for a man who plans to sue the city of Troy over Comitale's conduct.

Comitale was charged with harassment, a violation, in September after a confrontation with Darren Ayotte, vice president of the Twin Town Little League. Ayotte said he was arguing with a manager following a game when Comitale appeared, grabbed him by the shirt, pinned him against a car, elbowed him in the face and smashed his police badge into his forehead. The officer was off-duty at the time.

"I don't believe that Officer Comitale is fit to be a police officer," said Ayotte, who has worked for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for 21 years, initially as a correction officer. "I believe he's a threat to the public, and I believe that he's a threat to myself and my family at this point."

Ayotte, 47, made his remarks as he and his wife, Melissa, addressed reporters in the downtown Albany office of his lawyer, Lee Kindlon. The attorney on Monday filed a notice of claim, indicating his plans to sue the city of Troy. The notice mentions four other incidents involving Comitale, including one in September 2017 when the officer allegedly harassed a woman during a roadside encounter when he was off-duty.

The city has paid more than $174,000 to settle four excessive force-related allegations involving Comitale since 2011.

Comitale is currently on disability with a shoulder injury.

Kindlon provided a recording of Comitale speaking on Sept. 8 with North Greenbush officers after they arrived at the Little League complex at 79 Williams Road in North Greenbush. Ayotte said he had obtained audio and video footage, taken by police dashboard cameras, on Wednesday.

Ayotte said after listening to the recording, it reinforced his concerns and desire to have an order of protection imposed on Comitale. He noted he suffered a split lip and torn rotator cuff in the incident.

The recording showed North Greenbush police officers told Comitale they did not want to arrest him.

"Dude, I don't f__ing want to do this," one officer tells Comitale, adding that he had tried to get Ayotte to resolve the situation without pressing charges.

But the officer tells Comitale that five witnesses said they had seen him strike Ayotte.

"They're women, right?" Comitale replies with a laugh.

At another point, Comitale observes that things would have gone differently if the incident at the children's ball field had happened in the city he patrols.

"You should have went to Troy, man," Comitale says at one point to North Greenbush officers. "It's a lot easier. You don't have to deal with this f__ing sh__. You'd be slapping people around telling them to f__ off and 'Go play over there.'"

Comitale goes on to castigate North Greenbush police chief David Keevern as "a douchebag," prompting one of the officers to remind Comitale that his body recorder was on.

"I'm sure you don't care, but — ," the officer says.

"No, I don't," Comitale replies. As if addressing Keevern directly, he then adds, "Dave, you're a douche."

At one point, Comitale asks the officers: "What is it with you guys?"

At another point, Comitale tells the officers he and Ayotte were "hand-to-hand with my badge," and that he had turned and ripped it out of Ayotte's hand. He said someone had jumped on his back.

"So this is bullsh__," he says.

On Monday, Ayotte said the incident began when he reminded a team manager to rake the field following a game. He said the manager took exception, and they argued. During the confrontation, Ayotte said, a man he now knows to be Comitale ran over and grabbed him.

"Contrary to what he claims, he did nothing to mediate the situation," Ayotte told reporters. "Instead, he immediately grabbed me by my shirt, pushed and shoved me and ultimately pinned me against a parked car, which contained a family with young children."

Ayotte said he was disturbed when he learned of the past complaints against Comitale. He plans to sue Troy for alleged negligence, excessive force, emotional distress and more. The notice of claim said Comitale's actions were caused by a "custom, policy, and/or the deliberate indifference" of the city and its employees, who should have known of Comitale's propensity for such behavior.

"This police officer assaulted me in front of many children who were at the field that day, including my 8-year-old son," Ayotte told reporters. "It is shocking and deeply troubling that this officer has maintained his job with the city of Troy. ... The mountain of evidence of Dominick Comitale's poor judgment and lack of impulse control greatly concerns me, and I feel the city of Troy has placed my family's safety at risk by turning a blind eye and not firing this troubled officer long ago."

William Roberts, a lawyer for Comitale, scoffed at the accusations.

"In my opinion, Mr. Kindlon's client's civil suit has as little merit as his criminal complaint," the attorney said. "After all, we are talking about a bruised ego without any real damages. He who shouts loudest often has the least to say. I'm sorry I missed his important press conference."

In a statement, Keevern told the Times Union, "I have no comments to the recent development today. At this point."

He said as far as North Greenbush is concerned, the investigation "is concluded ... and the matter is in the hands of the court and the district attorney's office."

Troy Police Deputy Chief Daniel DeWolf said in an email that the department is "currently conducting an internal investigation into the incident."

Troy city spokesman John Salka said city policy is to withhold comment on potential litigation or personnel matters.