On Wednesday, a former commissioner for the New York Police Division (NYPD) filed a federal lawsuit towards Mayor Eric Adams and a number of other NYPD officers, alleging corruption throughout the nation’s largest police division.
In keeping with the New York Instances, former interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon alleges that in his temporary time within the function, he “uncovered systemic corruption and legal conduct being perpetrated by the NYPD’s management.” When he introduced proof of corruption to Mayor Adams’ consideration, Donlon alleges Adams “condoned the misconduct” and allowed it to proceed.
“Mayor Adams dismantled the NYPD’s chain of command and handed the division to a cabal of cronies and criminals,” stated John Scola, a lawyer for Mr. Donlon. “The result’s a demoralized pressure the place integrity is punished.”
Donlon was appointed to the place in Fall 2024 to stabilize the division that had been rocked by a number of overlapping federal investigations. Donlon solely served for a matter of weeks, as he resigned in November after federal brokers searched his house for labeled paperwork unrelated to their investigation into the NYPD.
That is the fifth lawsuit in two weeks alleging that the NYPD has engaged in corruption below Mayor Adams. Lots of the allegations made in Donlon’s swimsuit are much like these discovered within the 4 separate lawsuits filed by 4 former NYPD officers final week.
From the New York Instances:
One of many former officers, James Essig, who served greater than 40 years, was chief of detectives till August 2023. He stated within the swimsuit that Edward Caban, the commissioner on the time, had compelled him to resign after he objected to the promotions of unqualified officers to elite detective roles and specialised items.
Mr. Essig’s lawsuit, which names Mr. Caban, Mr. Adams and Jeffrey Maddrey, the previous chief of division, accused Mr. Caban of promoting promotions in change for $15,000.
As a substitute of counting on an inventory of candidates advisable by supervisors, Mr. Caban and Mr. Maddrey usually picked “pals and cronies” of theirs and Mr. Adams, in response to the swimsuit.
In an interview, Mr. Essig, 63, stated he wished “accountability” for former leaders whose choices “killed morale” and harm the careers of dozens of law enforcement officials who have been compelled out or left the division as a result of they have been troubled about its path.
Maddrey resigned in December after an officer accused him of coercing sexual favors in change for time beyond regulation alternatives, whereas Caban resigned on account of a federal investigation into him and a number of other different allies of Mayor Adams. Maddrey has denied all of the allegations towards him. Inside every swimsuit is a recurring theme of the previous officers being demoted or compelled to retire after bringing allegations of corruption and wrongdoing to Mayor Adams.
Donlon was the third of 4 commissioners who’ve served within the function throughout Mayor Adams’ tenure, together with his time as commissioner having a number of parallels with former NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell’s temporary time within the job. Sewell introduced her resignation solely 18 months into the function. Whereas Sewell hasn’t made many public remarks about her time as commissioner, her shut associates felt she was regularly turning into commissioner in title solely, being unable to even make discretionary promotions with out Mayor Adams’ approval.
Kenneth Corey, the previous chief of the division, beforehand instructed the New York Instances Sewell “was regularly being stripped of energy…they’d taken the facility to take advantage of primary of selections.”
In 2006, Adams retired from the NYPD as a Captain and has made the division a focus all through his time period as mayor. Adams was beforehand indicted on a corruption case the place it was alleged he acquired over $100,000 in flights and luxurious resort stays from Turkish nationals whereas serving in public workplace. Shortly after Trump took workplace, the Division of Justice moved to dismiss the costs as they felt the case would hamper Adams’ capability to implement the Trump administration’s immigration agenda.
Clearly, Adams and his associates are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible. However y’all. There’s a lot smoke right here, it’s exhausting to be skeptical of a fireplace. With 5 separate lawsuits, a earlier federal case about corruption, and a rotating door of commissioners, it may’t assist however increase questions on what’s happening on the NYPD.
A spokesperson for Mayor Adams issued a press release denying Donlon’s corruption allegations. “These are baseless accusations from a disgruntled former worker who — when given the chance to steer the best police division on the planet — proved himself to be ineffective,” Kayla Mamelak Altus, a spokeswoman for the mayor, instructed the New York Instances. “This swimsuit is nothing greater than an try to hunt compensation on the taxpayer’s expense after Mr. Donlon was rightfully faraway from the function of interim police commissioner.”
Mayor Adams is presently operating for re-election towards surging Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Adams, who has made falling crime charges the main focus of his reelection marketing campaign, is presently trailing within the polls.
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Federal Decide Dismisses Corruption Case In opposition to Eric Adams