Overview
- Four former NYPD chiefs—James Essig, Matthew Pontillo, Joseph Veneziano and Christopher McCormack—filed lawsuits in Manhattan Supreme Court on July 8 accusing Mayor Eric Adams and his top aides of department corruption and retaliation.
- The filings name former Police Commissioners Edward Caban and Jeffrey Maddrey, ex-Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks and current Chief John Chell as defendants in a coordinated scheme to install unqualified associates into elite NYPD units.
- James Essig’s suit alleges that Caban sold promotions for up to $15,000 and threatened him with a $50,000 pay cut or demotion after he challenged irregular hiring practices.
- Matthew Pontillo’s lawsuit describes how Community Response Team officers delayed activating body-worn cameras to conceal unconstitutional stops and says internal audits were suppressed.
- City Hall and the named officials have vowed to defend against the claims and all legal proceedings and discovery remain pending.