Thomas Donlon, a former federal agent who served as police commissioner final fall, sued Mayor Adams and prime present and former NYPD officers Wednesday, alleging they operated a “corrupt enterprise” that rewarded cronies and punished enemies on the expense of each the general public and rank-and-file cops, a duplicate of the go well with exhibits.
Donlon, 71, who was introduced in in September 2024 after Edward Caban resigned amid a federal investigation, alleges within the 251-page criticism filed in federal court docket in Manhattan the division’s former prime spokesman Tarik Sheppard threatened to “kill” him on the NYC Marathon after he found Sheppard had improperly used Donlon’s rubber signature stamp to approve Sheppard’s personal promotion to three-star chief.
“I will f—–g kill you,” Sheppard allegedly stated, in keeping with the go well with.
Donlon claims former Chief of Division Jeffrey Maddrey manipulated his each day schedule, planted “spies” in his workplace to maintain monitor of what the brand new commissioner was doing and blocked makes an attempt to provoke misconduct probes. Maddrey has since resigned below the cloud of a intercourse for extra time scandal.
And Donlon claims Maddrey and Sheppard secretly switched out the names of officers he chosen for promotion and changed them with their very own favorites whereas doctoring information to make it seem Donlon had signed off.
He additionally alleges that after a warehouse fireplace in 2022 destroyed many years of proof and uncovered sloppy practices, the NYPD promised to compile a complete report on proof storage. However, Donlon alleges, no report was performed and when he toured warehouses in late 2024, he discovered the identical sloppy practices.
Mayor Adams, Donlon alleges, both ignored his complaints or sided with Maddrey and his different loyalists – a significant break from the previous when mayors tended to again their police commissioners forward of underlings.
“This lawsuit is not a personal grievance; it is a statement against a corrupt system that betrays the public, silences truth, and punishes integrity,” Donlon stated in an announcement.
“The goal is to drive real change, hold the corrupt, deceitful, and abusively powerful accountable, and restore the voice of every honorable officer who has been silenced or denied justice.”
Adams appointed Donlon Sept. 13 after Edward Caban rapidly resigned following a go to from federal brokers concerned within the then-mushrooming corruption probe. On Nov. 20, Adams summarily dismissed Donlon in favor of Jessica Tisch. Donlon was shunted to a quiet function at Metropolis Corridor earlier than he was fired in April.
The lawsuit names Adams, Sheppard and 7 different present and former prime NYPD officers, together with Maddrey, Chief of Division John Chell, First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, and now Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry.
The go well with cites federal racketeering statutes in alleging the named defendants engaged in a legal enterprise that included obstruction of justice, trustworthy providers fraud and retaliation in opposition to a whistleblower.
“The lawsuit asserts that Adams and his deputies weaponized the NYPD’s hierarchy to consolidate political control, shield sexual misconduct, and retaliate against anyone who challenged their authority,” Donlon’s lawyer John Scola stated.
“Donlon’s refusal to play along made him a target—and the Department’s values, its officers, and the public all paid the price.”
Scola stated the go well with calls for the creation of an impartial federal monitor to supervise the NYPD’s system of promotions, assignments, and self-discipline which Donlon claims are corrupted by politics
It follows 4 lawsuits filed by prime chiefs who equally allege promotions had been manipulated to profit Adams NYPD cronies.
Spokespeople for the NYPD and the Mayor’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
