Former interim Police Commissioner Tom Donlon filed a bombshell, 251-page federal lawsuit Wednesday, accusing Mayor Eric Adams and senior NYPD management of utilizing the division as a racketeering enterprise that allegedly engaged in corruption, obstruction of justice, and retaliation towards whistleblowers.
Donlon, a former senior FBI govt appointed by Adams in September 2024, within the July 16 lawsuit accuses the mayor and high NYPD officers of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). He claims he was used as a public figurehead amid federal probes of Metropolis Corridor whereas actual management of the NYPD remained inside Adams’ internal circle.
The lawsuit additionally names First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, former Chief of Division Jeffrey Maddrey, Chief of Division John Chell, former Deputy Commissioner and present First Deputy Mayor of Public Security Kaz Daughtry, and Deputy Commissioners Tarik Sheppard and Michael Gerber.
In keeping with the grievance, Donlon — who served within the interim put up between September and November 2024 earlier than giving technique to present Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch — stated he uncovered a coordinated scheme to advertise politically linked officers with out benefit, hinder inner oversight, and manipulate investigations into misconduct.
He alleges that NYPD leaders cast inner paperwork utilizing his official police commissioner stamp to legitimize unauthorized promotions, leading to tens of millions of {dollars} in unearned salaries, extra time, pensions, and advantages.
The NYPD and Metropolis Corridor didn’t instantly reply to requests for feedback on the claims in Wednesday’s lawsuit.
A Metropolis Corridor spokesperson informed CBS New York, “This suit is nothing more than an attempt to seek compensation at the taxpayer’s expense after Mr. Donlon was rightfully removed from the role of interim police commissioner. We will respond in court, where we are confident these absurd claims will be disproven.”
Forgeries and ‘coordinated humiliation’
Mayor Eric Adams with interim Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon at a Sept. 18, 2024 announcement in Queens.Michael Appleton/Mayoral Images Workplace
Donlon alleges that Sheppard, then the Deputy Commissioner for Public Info, cast his signature on official NYPD promotion memos, utilizing the Police Commissioner’s stamp with out consent.
Donlon stated he confronted Sheppard after discovering Sheppard sporting insignia for a rank he by no means lawfully earned, calling it “a testament to his disregard for regulation and unequivocally stolen valor.”
In keeping with Donlon, Sheppard allegedly denied any wrongdoing. He additionally introduced the matter to Maddrey, the Chief of Division on the time, and Mayor Adams.
He claims Maddrey and Adams acknowledged that Sheppard’s promotion was unauthorized however stated neither took disciplinary motion.
In keeping with the lawsuit, Maddrey reportedly promised to handle the problem and notify Inner Affairs, however did neither.
Regardless of Donlon’s repeated orders, Sheppard continued to put on the Bureau Chief insignia till November 2024, when Sheppard allegedly threatened to kill Donlon, after which Sheppard was lastly demoted “from his stolen Bureau Chief rank.”
Donlon alleges that after the incident specifically, he was systematically excluded from decision-making, stripped of operational authority, and finally eliminated as police commissioner in retaliation.
The grievance additionally describes a private retaliation marketing campaign, together with the arrest of Donlon’s spouse, Deirdre O’Connor-Donlon, a retired New York State Supreme Court docket legal professional, orchestrated by senior NYPD officers to intimidate Donlon after his whistleblowing.
“This coordinated humiliation was a direct warning: the NYPD Defendants would stop at nothing to silence and personally destroy Donlon, even if it meant violating the constitutional rights of his spouse,” the lawsuit states.
Interim Police Commissioner Tom Donlon speaks a couple of capturing in Brooklyn on Sept. 15, 2024. Trying on are (background, l. to r.) Police Benevolent Affiliation President Thomas Hendry, Mayor Eric Adams, then-Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry and then-Chief of Division Jeffrey Maddrey.Photograph by Dean Moses
Alleged ‘predicate acts’ dedicated
Donlon accuses the named officers of a number of federal crimes as predicate acts beneath RICO, together with wire fraud, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, sincere companies fraud, and witness retaliation.
He claims these actions shaped a part of a deliberate and ongoing legal conspiracy directed from each Metropolis Corridor and NYPD headquarters.
The lawsuit additionally particulars a broader tradition of corruption, alleging that Adams’s administration systematically protected NYPD executives with histories of misconduct, together with allegations of violence, dishonesty, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority, whereas sidelining those that spoke out.
Promotions, extra time, and key assignments have been allegedly distributed as political rewards or used to silence dissent.
Donlon additionally claims that, past skilled retaliation, Adams and NYPD management undermined the integrity of regulation enforcement and public security.
Donlon stepped in to function interim Police Commissioner in September 2024 following Edward Caban’s resignation amid a federal corruption investigation into the division that concerned his brother.
Tisch took over the position from Donlon some two months later, changing into Mayor Adams’ fourth police commissioner throughout his first time period.
The lawsuit claims that Donlon was relieved of his duties as Police Commissioner lower than three weeks following his final reporting on to Adams about “the criminal acts” of Sheppard and the failure of Maddrey, Chell, and Daughtry to take corrective motion.
After his removing as interim commissioner in November 2024, Donlon says he was reassigned as a senior advisor on public security earlier than being abruptly terminated in Could of this 12 months.
The lawsuit alleges his firing was a part of a broader sample of retaliation and an effort to erase his affect from metropolis authorities.
Donlon additionally alleges emotional and reputational hurt, monetary loss, and the destruction of his regulation enforcement profession.
The lawsuit seeks damages and the appointment of a federal monitor to supervise NYPD disciplinary practices, whistleblower protections, and promotion processes.
Donlon’s attorneys argue the alleged conduct represents a systemic abuse of energy that continues to threaten institutional integrity and public belief in New York Metropolis.
Donlon’s lawsuit follows the bombshell lawsuits filed final week by 4 former NYPD chiefs who claimed they have been pressured out of the division after elevating considerations about misconduct, political favoritism, and violations of division coverage tied to Mayor Eric Adams’ internal circle.
