NYC Police Department Operated as a 'Criminal Organization' Under Mayor Eric Adams, Accuses Lawsuit
In a stunning development on July 16, 2025, former interim NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon filed a federal lawsuit against New York City Mayor Eric Adams and several top NYPD and city officials, accusing them of running the NYPD as a criminal racketeering enterprise under the RICO act.
The lawsuit, which alleges that the NYPD, under Adams’ direction, became "criminal at its core," claims that the senior leadership abandoned lawful governance to engage in malfeasance, promoting politically connected but unqualified officers over meritorious candidates, fabricating promotions, retaliating against other department members, obstructing internal investigations, and usurping Donlon's authority.
Key details of the lawsuit include:
- **Accused parties:** Besides Mayor Eric Adams, the suit names Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry, Chief of Department John Chell, former Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard, First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, former Assistant Chief Tarik Sheppard, and Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters Michael Gerber.
- **Allegations:** The senior leadership allegedly engaged in a pattern of fraud, including the unauthorized use of Donlon's official Police Commissioner stamp to legitimize corrupt internal documents and promotions, which led to "millions of dollars in unearned salary increases, overtime eligibility, pension enhancements, and post-retirement benefits."
- **Community Response Team (CRT):** The lawsuit also highlights the CRT, describing it as a “rogue” unit answering only to City Hall and used by Adams for political gain and to project a tough-on-crime image, often at the expense of civil rights and constitutional law.
- **Donlon’s role:** Donlon served as interim commissioner for about three months starting September 2024, following the resignation of Edward Caban. He claims he was commissioner “in name only,” with real power held by Adams’ loyalists who blocked merit-based promotions and sidelined him when he raised concerns about corruption.
- **Requested remedies:** The lawsuit calls for a federal takeover of the NYPD and the appointment of an independent special monitor to address corruption and restore lawful governance to the department.
- **Response from Adams and city officials:** The mayor and his office have dismissed the lawsuit as "baseless" and labeled Donlon a "disgruntled former employee" who was "ineffective" during his interim tenure, framing the lawsuit as an attempt to gain compensation at taxpayer expense.
This represents a significant legal challenge to Mayor Adams’ administration and the NYPD’s current leadership, alleging systemic corruption and abuse of power within the nation’s largest police force. Donlon, a former FBI senior executive, seeks a federal monitor to oversee the NYPD to ensure compliance with law and prevent further abuse.
The lawsuit joins those of other high-ranking NYPD officials, such as former Chief of Detectives James Essig, who claim they were pushed out after speaking up. Essig alleges he was offered a demotion or pay cut after complaining about unvetted transfers and promotions.
Attorney Sarena Townsend, representing the four chiefs, stated that Donlon's details will lead to vindication for him and others who suffered due to Mayor Adams' corruption. Adams has denied these claims, stating that his administration only cooperated with federal authorities on criminal investigations, not civil enforcement.
City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus called the allegations "baseless" and an attempt by Donlon to seek compensation at the taxpayer's expense after his removal as interim police commissioner. Critics and political opponents of the mayor have alleged that the dismissal of the charges coincided with the ramp up of immigration enforcement across the country, implying Adams may have cooperated with the Trump administration on removals in exchange for his own freedom.
Donlon, a former intelligence official, ran the FBI's National Threat Center and the FBI and NYPD joint terrorist task force, and was New York's director of the Office of Homeland Security. His lawsuit adds to the growing list of allegations of corruption at City Hall, following the dismissal of federal charges against Mayor Adams in April. The lawsuit is the fifth in two weeks to allege corruption within the NYPD, with claims of condoned corruption by City Hall.
The lawsuit filed by former NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon against Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials not only falls under the category of general news, but also politics, as it alleges systemic corruption within the NYPD under Adams' administration. This controversy, which includes accusations of a criminal racketeering enterprise and the unauthorized use of Donlon's official stamp for fraudulent purposes, falls under the umbrella of policy-and-legislation, as it raises questions about governance and calls for a federal takeover of the NYPD. Additionally, the lawsuit is associated with crime-and-justice, as it highlights the Community Response Team's alleged role in political gains and questionable actions that potentially violate civil rights and constitutional law.
