Overview

• On July 21, former interim NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon filed a $10 million notice of claim against Mayor Eric Adams and ex-spokesman Tarik Sheppard for defamation.
• The notice alleges Adams and Sheppard knowingly made false statements that Donlon was “mentally not fit” and refused a cognitive test to undermine his reputation.
• This filing follows Donlon’s July 16 federal RICO lawsuit accusing Adams and senior NYPD officials of running a criminal enterprise and retaliating against whistleblowers.
• Donlon’s attorney, John Scola, called the mental-health allegations a deliberate move to silence his client and distract from the misconduct he exposed.
• Neither the mayor’s office nor Sheppard has responded publicly, signaling a prolonged legal battle over the defamation claim.