Federal authorities are investigating allegations that cops could have paid bribes or provided different gratuities in trade for promotions, in response to a letter filed in courtroom Thursday by a lawyer suing a former high adviser of Mayor Adams.
The lawyer, John Scola, wrote within the letter that his agency has spoken in latest months with “numerous” police union officers, officers and detectives of assorted ranks who’ve both “direct knowledge” of the of the “pay to play” investigation, have been interviewed by federal investigators or have been requested to show over digital communications to them.
Scola made the claims in a letter to town searching for paperwork on behalf of his consumer, retired sergeant Roxanne Ludemann. Ludemann alleges that former senior mayoral adviser Tim Pearson sexually harassed her, then blocked her promotion in early 2023 when she rebuffed him.
Former NYPD Captain and Mayor Adams adviser Timothy Pearson. (NYPD)
Scola alleges within the letter that Pearson as an alternative authorized the promotion of his pal Patrick Gordon, the president of the NYPD Guardians Fraternal group, a bunch during which Pearson has lengthy been energetic. Gordon was promoted to Sgt Particular Task on Feb 24., 2023.
“(Ludemann) seeks discovery regarding the ‘pay-to-play’ promotion scheme currently under investigation by federal, state, and city law enforcement agencies,” Scola writes within the letter.
“(The city’s) assertion that plaintiff’s discovery demands are based on rumor is both false and misleading. I have personally spoken with numerous individuals possessing direct knowledge of the internal operations of the NYPD and the ongoing investigations that have implicated the department.”
Along with Ludemann, Scola additionally represents an energetic obligation chief, Miltiadis Marmara, and two different retired police supervisors who declare Pearson sidelined their careers for backing Ludemann.
Courtesy of Roxanne Ludemann
NYPD Sgt. Roxanne Ludemann is pictured in uniform in an undated photograph. (Courtesy of Roxanne Ludemann)
Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the U.S. Legal professional’s workplace in Manhattan, declined remark as did a spokeswoman for town Division of Investigation.
Rumors about an investigation into pay for promotions have been circulating for months, ever since early September when the FBI appeared on the houses of key Adams administration officers, together with Pearson, Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Deputy Mayor for Public Security Philip Banks.
Scola’s letter is the primary documented indication that such an investigation has been underway.
It has already been reported that Caban’s brother James is underneath investigation for utilizing his police ties to assist native companies in avoiding police crackdowns.
Federal authorities in September slapped Mayor Adams’ asylum seeker operations director, Molly Schaeffer, with a subpoena requiring her to show over data, together with communications with Pearson, who had deep involvement in metropolis migrant contracts.
