Former top NYPD officials accused of giving promotions to 'friends and cronies'

Top officials at the New York City police department doled out prized promotions to unqualified "friends and cronies," according to a new lawsuit.
Top officials at the New York City police department doled out prized promotions to unqualified "friends and cronies," according to a bombshell lawsuit that also accuses a former police commissioner of selling promotions for up to $15,000.
James Essig, a former NYPD chief of detectives, says in the suit that the improper promotions were pushed by former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, both of whom resigned in late 2024 amid unrelated scandals.
The lawsuit says that Essig, who retired in 2023, raised concerns over the promotions and that doing so ultimately cost him his job.
"Essig could not be fired without due process," the lawsuit says. "Accordingly, defendants Caban and Maddrey, with the implied and tacit approval of Defendant Mayor [Eric] Adams, contrived a plan to force Essig to resign from his position."
In addition to Caban, Maddrey and Adams, the suit also targets the NYPD. It was one of four lawsuits filed Tuesday by the same lawyer, each with a separate former senior NYPD commander as the plaintiff. The suits accuse NYPD top brass of running a department beset by corruption, illegal conduct and retaliation.
Rating: 5