Ex-NYPD Legal Chief Files Corruption Lawsuit Against Department, Accusing Adams
In a shocking turn of events, Amy Litwin, a former top lawyer at the New York Police Department (NYPD), has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams and the current Police Commissioner, Edward Caban, alleging that she was fired for investigating high-ranking uniformed officer, Jeffrey Maddrey.
The lawsuit, filed this week, accuses the department and Mayor Adams of firing Litwin after she completed a review at the request of the Civilian Complaint Review Board about allegations that Maddrey used his position to void the arrest of a retired officer. The suit names Caban and Maddrey as defendants.
Litwin's attorney, Sarena Townsend, stated that Litwin was terminated from her position after issuing a detailed report about Maddrey in May 2023. According to Townsend, Litwin was fired after she dared to hold Maddrey responsible for his alleged criminal activity and reported it to the NYPD commissioner.
Maddrey, who was accused of menacing teenagers with his gun drawn, later resigned following an unrelated accusation by a subordinate that he demanded sexual favors in exchange for approving overtime wages.
The decision to fire Litwin, according to the suit, was made with the express or implied authority and consent of Mayor Adams. The suit states that Maddrey was present in the conference room during Litwin's firing.
Keechant Sewell, who served as police commissioner at the time, agreed with Litwin's conclusions in the report that Maddrey abused his authority and should face discipline. Sewell resigned weeks after the report was issued and was replaced by Edward Caban.
The lawsuit also resurfaces the claims made by former Police Commissioner Tom Donlon last month. Donlon made a civil lawsuit claim that Mayor Adams and other NYPD officials ran the department as a "criminal enterprise."
City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus made a comment on this story, stating that Mayor Adams never directed the former police commissioner to terminate Litwin. However, Townsend claims that Litwin was under pressure from Mayor Adams' inner circle to 'cheapen' or ignore penalties for Adams' clique.
This story has been updated with a comment from a City Hall spokesperson. As of now, both Caban and Maddrey have denied the accusations. Lawyers for both parties did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
