Thomas Donlon, a former federal agent who served as police commissioner last fall, sued Mayor Adams and top current and former NYPD officials Wednesday, alleging they operated a “corrupt enterprise” that rewarded cronies and punished enemies at the expense of both the public and rank-and-file police officers, a copy of the suit shows.
Donlon, 71, who was brought in in September 2024 after Edward Caban resigned amid a federal investigation, alleges in the 251-page complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan the department’s former top spokesman Tarik Sheppard threatened to “kill” him at the NYC Marathon after he discovered Sheppard had improperly used Donlon’s rubber signature stamp to approve Sheppard’s own promotion to three-star chief.
“I will f—–g kill you,” Sheppard allegedly said, according to the suit.
Donlon claims former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey manipulated his daily schedule, planted “spies” in his office to keep track of what the new commissioner was doing and blocked attempts to initiate misconduct probes. Maddrey has since resigned under the cloud of a sex for overtime scandal.
And Donlon claims Maddrey and Sheppard secretly switched out the names of officers he selected for promotion and replaced them with their own favorites while doctoring records to make it appear Donlon had signed off.
He also alleges that after a warehouse fire in 2022 destroyed decades of evidence and exposed sloppy practices, the NYPD promised to compile a comprehensive report on evidence storage. But, Donlon alleges, no report was done and when he toured warehouses in late 2024, he found the same sloppy practices.
Mayor Adams, Donlon alleges, either ignored his complaints or sided with Maddrey and his other loyalists – a major break from the past when mayors tended to back their police commissioners ahead of underlings.
“This lawsuit is not a personal grievance; it is a statement against a corrupt system that betrays the public, silences truth, and punishes integrity,” Donlon said in a statement.
“The goal is to drive real change, hold the corrupt, deceitful, and abusively powerful accountable, and restore the voice of every honorable officer who has been silenced or denied justice.”
Adams appointed Donlon Sept. 13 after Edward Caban hastily resigned following a visit from federal agents involved in the then-mushrooming corruption probe. On Nov. 20, Adams summarily dismissed Donlon in favor of Jessica Tisch. Donlon was shunted to a quiet role at City Hall before he was fired in April.
The lawsuit names Adams, Sheppard and seven other current and former top NYPD officials, including Maddrey, Chief of Department John Chell, First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, and now Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry.
The suit cites federal racketeering statutes in alleging the named defendants engaged in a criminal enterprise that included obstruction of justice, honest services fraud and retaliation against a whistleblower.
“The lawsuit asserts that Adams and his deputies weaponized the NYPD’s hierarchy to consolidate political control, shield sexual misconduct, and retaliate against anyone who challenged their authority,” Donlon’s lawyer John Scola said.
“Donlon’s refusal to play along made him a target—and the Department’s values, its officers, and the public all paid the price.”
Scola said the suit demands the creation of an independent federal monitor to oversee the NYPD’s system of promotions, assignments, and discipline which Donlon claims are corrupted by politics
It follows four lawsuits filed by top chiefs who similarly allege promotions were manipulated to benefit Adams NYPD cronies.
Spokespeople for the NYPD and the Mayor’s office did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
