Ex-commissioner Claims NYPD Is Run Like A 'Criminal Enterprise' In Explosive New Lawsuit

Former interim New York City Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon has filed a sweeping federal lawsuit claiming the NYPD is "criminal at its core" and operates like a "racketeering enterprise.” The lawsuit, which also names top city officials including Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry, Chief of Department John Chell, and former Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard, alleges that the NYPD's senior leadership "abandoned lawful governance" to consolidate political power, obstruct justice, and retaliate against dissenters.

According to the complaint, Donlon claims that during his tenure as interim commissioner, he held the title "in name only," with real power concentrated among Adams' inner circle. "The Defendants undermined Donlon's authority by blocking his merit-based promotions and instead elevating unvetted individuals of their choosing," the lawsuit states. It further accuses Eric Adams' team of using Donlon's official commissioner stamp without consent to legitimize their actions.

Donlon paints a picture of a deeply corrupt leadership, saying they "engaged in a coordinated pattern of racketeering activity that was deliberate, sustained, and directed from the highest levels of the NYPD and City Hall." In a particularly personal allegation, Donlon claims city officials orchestrated the false arrest of his wife for expired car insurance in December 2024 as an act of revenge, later leaking the incident to the press.

"This was not a mistake. It was a deliberate abuse of power designed to punish and intimidate Donlon for exposing their misconduct," the suit reads. "This coordinated humiliation was a direct warning... even if it meant violating the constitutional rights of his spouse."

Mayor Adams' press secretary dismissed the suit as "absurd" and a move by "a disgruntled former employee" to seek compensation after being removed from his post. "The NYPD is led by the best, brightest, and most honorable professionals in the nation," she said, noting that crime is at record lows.

Donlon is seeking compensatory, emotional, and punitive damages, along with injunctive relief. The full extent of damages will be determined at trial.

Link: ABCNews