FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Max Schulman, 347-861-4167
New York, NY (July 9, 2025) – Citizens Union issued the following statement from Executive Director Grace Rauh in response to reports of civil lawsuits filed by high-ranking former NYPD chiefs against Mayor Eric Adams and top Police Department officials alleging patterns of corruption and retaliation in the Department:
“The allegations of corruption, cronyism, and retaliation in the New York City Police Department – detailed in civil lawsuits filed by former NYPD chiefs against Mayor Adams, former Police Commissioner Edward Caban, former Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, and current Chief of Department John Chell – are deeply troubling and raise alarming questions about a culture of corruption within the NYPD.
“If promotions were handed out for money, audits were buried, and misconduct investigations were curtailed, there should be an inquiry broader than a civil court proceeding, which could drag on for years or be settled out of public view.
“The Department of Investigation and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG-NYPD) should open an investigation into this matter promptly, inform the public of their findings and make referrals for criminal prosecution where appropriate. New Yorkers deserve to know the truth about what happened here. They deserve an NYPD that makes decisions based on merit, not favoritism, and that fosters a culture of integrity and accountability.”
About Citizens Union
For more than a century, Citizens Union has been leading the fight for reform in New York. We are a non-partisan good government group that serves as a civic watchdog to combat corruption. We are New Yorkers from diverse backgrounds and political beliefs, united in our commitment to put the public interest ahead of all special interests. We work to ensure honest and accountable government, fair and open elections, and a civically engaged public. Principled and pragmatic, Citizens Union is an independent force for constructive reform, driving policy solutions to achieve responsible and responsive government in the City and State of New York.
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