NEW YORK - The city's police commissioner is standing by his claim that the NYPD failed in the fatal shooting of an emotionally disturbed Bronx woman. 

This, despite criticism from the head of the sergeants’ union who denounced the mayor and commissioner for calling the Tuesday night shooting of 66-year-old Deborah Danner unjustified.

Investigators say Danner, who suffered from schizophrenia, was armed with a bat when she was shot by Sergeant Hugh Barry.

James O’Neill says police were called to her Castle Hill apartment four times in the past and officers were aware Danner was emotionally disturbed. 

"We were called to that apartment to help someone; we ended up killing her. To me, that's an agency failure. And every police officer knows when they use deadly physical force, they're accountable for that," O'Neill said.

Barry has since been placed on modified duty—stripped of his badge and gun.

Earlier this week, Mayor Bill de Blasio accused Barry of not following training or protocol.

He did not use his Taser.

The President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association says de Blasio and O’Neill are rushing to judgment and Barry was forced to defend himself.

The Bronx DA's office will still look into the case.