Former NYC top cop sues city and mayor accusing corruption, fraud

A former New York Police Department commissioner filed a lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams and several top NYPD officials, accusing them of misconduct in their management of City Hall and the police force. Thomas G. Donlon’s lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, July 16, targets Mayor Adams and eight others, including both current and former high-ranking members of the NYPD. The lawsuit specifically names Chief of Department John Chell and Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry.

Donlon, who was appointed interim police commissioner in the fall of 2024, served only for a few weeks before stepping down in November 2024. His resignation followed a federal investigation that saw agents search his home in connection with a separate case involving classified documents.

Accusations of criminal conspiracy and corruption

In his lawsuit, Donlon claims that a “coordinated criminal conspiracy” took root at the highest levels of city government, involving wire fraud, mail fraud, obstruction of justice and retaliation against whistleblowers. He described the NYPD leadership as “criminal at its core.”

“A coordinated criminal conspiracy had taken root at the highest levels of City government—carried out through wire fraud, mail fraud, honest services fraud, obstruction of justice and retaliation against whistleblowers. This enterprise—the NYPD—was criminal at its core,” Donlon’s lawsuit alleges.

Donlon accused Mayor Adams of permitting a pattern of corruption and criminal behavior to unfold within the NYPD’s leadership, asserting that he raised concerns about “fabricated promotions, systemic fraud, retaliatory policing and the obstruction of internal investigations” to the mayor.

Alleged corruption scheme and retaliation

The lawsuit further claims that top NYPD officials were involved in a corruption scheme that resulted in unjustified salary raises, excessive overtime pay, inflated pensions and other improperly awarded benefits. Donlon said that when he demanded accountability, he was “stripped of real authority” and ultimately removed from his position as interim police commissioner in retaliation.

Donlon also alleges that the NYPD leadership, in an act of “calculated and deeply personal” revenge, coordinated the “false arrest and unlawful detention” of his wife. According to the lawsuit, officers subjected her to a full-body search. Donlon claims that this act was meant to intimidate him and destroy his reputation.

“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,” he said.

A pattern of lawsuits against NYPD

In the past two weeks, five separate lawsuits or accusations have been filed by former high-ranking officials claiming misconduct or wrongdoing within Adams’ police department, according to The New York Times.

A spokesperson for Mayor Adams dismissed the lawsuit as “baseless accusations from a disgruntled former employee.”

Kayla Mamelak Altus, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said to The Times. “When given the opportunity to lead the greatest police department in the world, (Donlon) proved himself to be ineffective.” Altus added. “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.”