The NYPD’s highest-ranking uniformed officer resigned suddenly on Friday amid accusations that he solicited sexual favors from police subordinates, the latest scandal to rock the NYPD and the Adams administration.
Just hours before department chief Jeffrey Madre’s sudden resignation, Lt. Quasisha Epps, who held an administrative position in Madre’s office, reported sexual harassment claims against him to the state Human Rights Division, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital complaint.
Epps alleges that Madere “engaged in quid pro quo sexual harassment” by forcing her to perform unwanted sexual acts in exchange for overtime at the workplace.
Earlier this year, department head Jeffrey Maddrey was interviewed by the media. (Theodore Parisian of the New York Daily News, Getty Images)
New York City police chief resigns as Democratic mayor’s inner circle faces investigation into possible corruption
The indictment also alleges that Madere forced Epps to “care for” another female officer and “subjected the officer to unwelcome sexual advances and conduct, including sexual intercourse, in the workplace.”
Epps also alleged that Madre, who is married, maintained an inappropriate sexual relationship with another female detective, subjecting Epps to “further sexual assault in person and through her cell phone.”
NYPD Patrol Capt. John Chell took over as interim department chief on Friday night, and Philip Rivera now serves as interim patrol officer, the NYPD said in a news release Saturday morning. team leader.
Quathisha Epps attends the New York City Police Foundation Gala at the Hilton New York City Center on April 30, 2019 in New York City. (Gonzalo Marroquin/Patrick McMullan, Getty Images)
Madre was not mentioned in the press release, but the NYPD confirmed to Fox News Digital on Saturday that Madre had resigned from the NYPD, but the agency did not provide a reason.
“Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tish accepted the resignation of Police Chief Jeffrey Madere on Friday evening, effective immediately,” an NYPD spokesperson said via email. “The NYPD takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and will investigate the matter thoroughly.”
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Earlier this week, the New York Post cited salary records showing that Epps earned as much as $400,000 for administrative work in Maddrey’s office, including only about $204,000 in overtime last year. Si made headlines. She claimed in the filing that Madere falsified her overtime pay figures in October after she began rejecting his advances.
She said that led to criminal and internal investigations against her in retaliation.
Epps said in the complaint that she met with Madre earlier this week and that she planned to leave the force after she said she was publicly painted as an “overtime abuser.” Madere asked for sexual favors and she agreed, she said. She later applied for retirement from the NYPD through a vested interest pension.
A spokesman for Adams said his office is “deeply troubled by these allegations and the NYPD is investigating.”
Former New York City Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban resigned in September. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Mayor Adams is working closely with Police Chief Tisch and the NYPD is conducting a separate department-wide review to ensure that no senior officers used their authority inappropriately. We will refrain from commenting further as to not jeopardize either investigation.”
The controversy is the latest riot to hit the New York Police Department. Former Commissioner Edward Caban resigned in September amid a federal investigation surrounding New York Mayor Eric Adams.
Adams then appointed former FBI counterterrorism expert Tom Donlon as interim commissioner, and he was replaced two months later by Tisch, who was subsequently named permanent commissioner.
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Adams was indicted by a federal grand jury in September and faces five charges, including bribery, soliciting campaign contributions from foreigners, wire fraud and conspiracy. Federal prosecutors accuse Adams of accepting luxury travel stipends and illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreigners who sought to buy his influence. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Mayor Eric Adams and Ingrid Lewis-Martin hold a press conference at City Hall in Manhattan, New York, on January 2, 2024 (Barry Williams for New York Daily News, Getty Images)
Ingrid Lewis Martin, a senior adviser to Adams, resigned on Sunday after being accused of taking bribes.
Prosecutors said Lewis-Martin and her son received more than $100,000 in income and other favors in exchange for approval to expedite her construction project. She has pleaded not guilty.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
