NYPD’s top uniformed officer resigns amid sexual misconduct and corruption allegations

Jeffrey Maddrey, the former NYPD chief, resigned Saturday in the wake of allegations that he demanded sexual favors from a subordinate in exchange for awarding her more than $200,000 in overtime pay. Photo courtesy of the New York City Police Department

The termination came a few hours later The New York Post writes Maddrey demanded sexual favors from a female lieutenant in exchange for awarding her hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime.

“Last night, I accepted the resignation of Department Chief Jeffrey Maddrey,” Tisch said in a statement Posted Saturday. “The NYPD takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and will thoroughly investigate this matter.”

She announced that Chief John Chell will take over as interim chief of the department, while Chief Philip Rivera will now serve as interim chief of patrol.

Despite his previous support for Maddrey in the face of past allegations of wrongdoing, Adams moved to distance himself from the former chief in the latest case of corruption allegations surrounding his administration.

“The police commissioner is doing a full review of all personnel, but she’s also doing a full review of this issue,” Adams told reporters. “I have a lot of confidence and the city has a lot of confidence in Police Commissioner Tisch, she’s doing her review internally and we’re going to decide how to move forward with these allegations.”

The FBI has joined an investigation by the City Department of Investigation into the fraudulent overtime and sexual misconduct allegations against Maddrey, The New York Times reported.

The Post story provided graphic allegations made by Lt. Quathisha Epps, who claimed the chief “routinely accosted her and solicited sex at NYPD headquarters.”

She had previously been the subject of stories revealing that salary records showed Epps was the top earner in the entire NYPD in 2023, collecting $400,000, including about $204,000 in overtime alone, while serving as an administrator in Maddrey’s office.

Epps was suspended for 30 days and is being investigated for the excessive overtime, police sources told the Post.

Maddrey’s resignation has added to the latest turmoil and turnover surrounding the NYPD’s top echelons as Adams faces a federal indictment on corruption charges.

More people has left his administration since September, including former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, who left on Sept. 12 amid a federal investigation into police nightclub enforcement.

The former commissioner, Keechant Sewell, resigned abruptly in June 2023 without giving a reason.

Tisch was first appointed to the job last month, making her the fourth commissioner under Adams’ administration.