Mayor Eric Adams characterised as “alarming” the allegations in opposition to NYPD Chief of Division Jeffrey Maddrey, who resigned late Friday after a subordinate filed a criticism alleging Maddrey had pushed her into sexual favors for additional time pay on the job.
NYPD Lt. Quathisha Epps mentioned in a criticism to the New York State Division of Human Rights that Maddrey “engaged in quid quo pro sexual harassment by exploiting her emotional and financial vulnerabilities, as well as her history of childhood trauma, to coerce her into performing unwanted sexual favors, in exchange for overtime opportunities in the workplace.”
Epps, who earned greater than $400,000 together with the additional time final 12 months, instructed the Publish of Maddrey, the NYPD’s high uniformed officer: “I think he’s a predator.”
A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Legal professional’s workplace mentioned it’s investigating the “extremely serious and disturbing claim” by Epps.
It’s the primary time Adams has distanced himself from Maddrey, whom he has constantly promoted and praised regardless of Maddrey’s checkered historical past on the police division.
Adams appointed Maddrey as chief of division regardless of a previous allegation that Maddrey received in a bodily tussle with an underling he was having an affair with in late 2015 and lied to the NYPD’s Inner Affairs Bureau about it.
NYPD investigators decided Maddrey had offered them with inaccurate and deceptive statements in regards to the incident on two events, and requested formal costs in opposition to him for mendacity that ordinarily would have led to termination.
However Maddrey labored behind the scenes to barter a settlement that dismissed these high costs, pleading responsible to 3 lesser costs that stripped him of 45 days trip.
As soon as Maddrey was ensconced as chief of division, Adams moved to guard him within the face of costs he had abused his energy.
In a video investigation final 12 months, THE CITY delivered to mild a 2021 incident through which Maddrey, then the NYPD’s chief of neighborhood affairs, acted to void the arrest of a retired colleague who chased three boys with a gun.
The Civilian Grievance Assessment Board discovered Maddrey had abused his authority and really useful he be disciplined with the lack of 10 trip days. It was a advice former NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell agreed with whilst Adams made public statements that Maddrey had acted appropriately in voiding the arrest of Kruythoff Forrester, who had beforehand labored below Maddrey in Brownsville’s 73rd Precinct.
Adams then took the extraordinary step of asking Sewell to not self-discipline Maddrey, THE CITY reported — a dialog {that a} spokesperson for the mayor denied happened. Sewell resigned as police commissioner quickly after, the primary of 4 commissioners Adams has appointed so far.
Maddrey was ready put that case to relaxation earlier this 12 months after former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, an in depth ally of Maddrey and Adams, dominated that the CCRB didn’t have the purview to deliver an abuse of authority cost.
Remarkably, the one one who was disciplined in that case was the sergeant who decided that Forrester must be arrested after the three boys precisely described Forrester’s gun and the place he had pulled it from.
All through that case, Adams staunchly defended Maddrey — signalling each publicly and privately that he anticipated Maddrey’s profession to proceed unscathed.
NYPD chief Jeffrey Maddrey attends a Bronx press convention with Mayor Eric Adams on the brand new Neighborhood Security Groups, March 21, 2022. Credit score: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
“I think the commissioner made the right decision of appointing Chief Maddrey as chief of the department. His years of experience. People just adored him in Brooklyn North,” Adams mentioned in March 2023 when requested about Maddrey’s alleged abuse of authority. “I have the utmost confidence in Chief Maddrey.”
When Adams was pressed on the video proof of Maddrey’s inappropriate intervention, he mentioned: “I have the utmost respect, confidence in Chief Maddrey and I’m excited that he’s leading my patrol force. I’m excited about it.”
Detailed Grievance
Epps instructed the New York Publish that Maddrey started being beneficiant with additional time a couple of years in the past when she was going via monetary hardships whereas she labored for him within the public affairs bureau.
However she mentioned the additional pay got here with requests that she carry out private errands for him exterior the workplace.
Epps instructed the publication that the calls for for sexual favors began in June 2023, when Epps labored within the workplace of the Chief of Division below Maddrey. She alleged in graphic element that Maddrey coerced her right into a again room of his workplace that has a sofa and a toilet and initiated intercourse that she requested him to cease.
“He kept forcing it and forcing it,” Epps instructed The Publish. “And I kept asking him, ‘Can you please stop?”
Epps’ criticism in opposition to Maddrey, filed with the federal Equal Employment Alternative Fee, famous that she had just lately come below legal investigation for submitting an inordinate quantity of additional time.
Epps wrote in her criticism that her additional time sheets had been manipulated by Maddrey via First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella and others “to falsely portray her as an abuser of overtime,” after she tried to place a cease to Maddrey’s alleged sexual calls for in October.
Her declare alleges additional time abuse was in truth rampant below the tenure of former Police Commissioner Edward Caban, notably within the workplaces of Chief of Patrol John Chell and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry — a protege of Maddrey who can also be near Adams.
NYPD Chief of Division Joseph Maddrey attends the commissioner swearing-in ceremony for Edward Caban exterior the fortieth Precinct within the South Bronx, July 17, 2023. Credit score: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
Caban resigned in September after federal investigators seized his cellphone as a part of a probe involving his twin brother, James Caban, trying into claims that James suggested nightlife institutions to pay him in an effort to get higher therapy from the NYPD.
Lately appointed police commissioner Jessica Tisch mentioned early Saturday that she had accepted Maddrey’s resignation and elevated Chell to function interim Chief of Division.
“The NYPD takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously, and will thoroughly investigate this matter,” she posted on X.
Mayoral spokesperson Kayla Mamelak mentioned Metropolis Corridor officers are “deeply disturbed” by the allegations in opposition to Maddrey.
“Mayor Adams is working in close coordination with Police Commissioner Tisch as the NYPD conducts a separate department-wide review to ensure no high ranking officers are using their power inappropriately,” she mentioned.
However Lambrou instructed the New York Publish the declare by Epps was linked to the publicity round her additional time numbers.
“What a convenient time to accuse somebody of misconduct after she’s caught stealing time,” Lambrou instructed the publication. “She’s obviously drowning and in the deep end of the pool without a lifesaver. She wants to take down as many people as she can. This is completely meritless, and we deny every aspect of it.”
Maddrey’s departure is the most recent in a string of exits below stress of high Adams aides who’ve discovered themselves below scrutiny from state or federal prosecutors, or from lawsuits alleging misconduct, within the realm of public security — the signature challenge for the mayor.
Adams’ shut friends Philip Banks III, the previous deputy mayor of public security, and Timothy Pearson, a former cop who was enjoying a heavy-handed position in policing and safety, each resigned in October after their cell telephones had been seized by federal investigators.
Caban and Maddrey have additionally been shut with Adams, as was Tarik Sheppard, the previous Deputy Commissioner of Public Info who Tisch introduced final week shall be changed in January.
Regardless of constantly referring to the police division as “my police department,” Adams, a former cop who rose to the rank of captain throughout a 22-year profession on the NYPD, has but to take duty for the turmoil engulfing the NYPD.
As an alternative, he has claimed that the departures of Pearson and Banks — in addition to 4 different shut aides who’ve additionally left the administration below a cloud — got here as a result of they received worn out by the heavy grind of presidency work.
Maddrey is the third present or former NYPD member within the Adams administration to face allegations of sexual abuse or harassment.
Adams himself was hit with a civil lawsuit final 12 months claiming he sexually assaulted a feminine officer many years in the past who had come to him for assist getting a promotion. Adams has vehemently denied the allegations.
Pearson, who resigned after federal buyers seized his cellphone, was the topic of 4 lawsuits claiming he sexually harassed an underling and retaliated in opposition to her and three NYPD colleagues who stood up for her.
One of many lawsuits notes that the pinnacle of the NYPD’s Inner Affairs Bureau, Chief Miguel Iglesias, whom the lawsuit alleges helped facilitate the retaliation in opposition to the 4 Pearson subordinates, was an in depth affiliate of Pearson.
Late Saturday, Tisch introduced that Iglesias had been “relieved of his command” and can retire.
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