In a sweeping move, numerous high-ranking officials from the New York Police Department (NYPD) have been removed from their positions.
This comes on the heels of allegations against their former chief, who was accused of exploiting his position to solicit sexual favors in exchange for overtime.
According to the Daily Mail, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has taken decisive action against several top officials within the Internal Affairs bureau. Among those ousted is Deputy Chief Chris Morello. This purge follows the shocking allegations leveled against Chief Jeffrey Maddrey by Lieutenant Quathisha Epps, a subordinate who accused him of engaging in predatory sexual behavior.
The Chief of Internal Affairs, Miguel Iglesias, was among those removed from his position on the day the scandal broke. Further investigation by the New York Post revealed that Inspector Joseph Profeta, who led the IAB group responsible for investigating allegations against NYPD captains and higher-ranking officers, was reassigned to Patrol Borough Brooklyn North. IAB Special Opps Inspector Michael Ricciardi was similarly dispatched to Patrol Borough Manhattan North.
In addition to these high-ranking officials, a dozen other IAB officers, ranging from lieutenants to sergeants, were reassigned to remote patrol areas. Five detectives and a police officer from Maddrey's office were also reassigned to patrol duties in housing projects.
A high-ranking source told the outlet, "Tisch means business. She's cleaning up the mess and putting the department back on track." This decisive action is seen as a response to the explosive allegations made by Epps, who claimed she was granted overtime amounting to $400,000 in exchange for sexual favors.
Epps alleged, "He was always asking me to kiss his penis," adding that the demands allegedly included sex in NYPD headquarters. Epps and her lawyer, Eric Sanders, have announced plans to file a notice of claim with the city comptroller detailing her allegations.
Epps, who had worked under Maddrey as she advanced through the ranks from Chief of Housing to Chief of Patrol, claimed that Maddrey's sexual demands began in June 2023 when he assumed the position of Chief of Department. She alleged that Maddrey exploited her financial difficulties for his own gain.
As Epps attempted to distance herself from Maddrey, her high overtime earnings were exposed. She had earned over $400,000 in the fiscal year 2024, including $204,000 in overtime for a total of 1,626 hours that year. Following the exposure of these staggering sums, Epps filed for retirement and was subsequently suspended.
Larry Lambrous, Maddrey's lawyer, has denied all accusations on behalf of his client, stating that Maddrey was not authorized to approve overtime. Maddrey himself has claimed that he was in a "consensual, adult" relationship with Epps and denied any coercion.
However, Epps' lawyer countered these claims, stating, "This clown is a f**king disgrace. We have a treasure trove of digital data that will hopefully bring this degenerate to justice." This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining integrity and ethical conduct within law enforcement agencies.
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