Donlon v. Adams: Ex-NYPD Chief Alleges Department is 'Criminal Enterprise'

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Posted: 17th July 2025

Richard Sanders

Last updated 17th July 2025

Donlon v. Adams: Ex-NYPD Chief Alleges Department is 'Criminal Enterprise'

Tom Donlon, who briefly served as interim NYPD Commissioner, has filed a scathing federal lawsuit, the full complaint accessible here, painting a damning picture of Mayor Eric Adams' administration and top brass, essentially calling the entire police department a "criminal enterprise."

Filed on July 16, 2025, in Manhattan, the complaint asserts that the department operates not merely with instances of mismanagement, but as a deep, systemic criminal enterprise, Donlon alleges, with pervasive corruption orchestrated under Mayor Adams' closest associates.

A Department Gone Rogue?

Digging into the federal complaint, Donlon's accusations are stark. He's not just pointing fingers; he's laying out a pattern of alleged illegal activity:

"Criminal at Its Core": This isn't just a tough phrase; Donlon’s alleging the NYPD operates like a coordinated crime syndicate. He claims it's involved in everything from racketeering and wire fraud to mail fraud and obstruction of justice. It’s an astonishing claim from a former insider.
Rigged Promotions & Self-Dealing: Imagine promotions being handed out not on merit, but on loyalty. Donlon claims Adams’ inner circle rigged the system, allegedly using the mayor's signature stamp without permission to push through their friends and themselves, inflating salaries based on who they knew, not what they earned.
Whistleblower Retaliation: A Personal Cost: Donlon says when he started raising red flags, he paid a heavy price. His authority was stripped, his schedule was thrown into chaos, and then, in a truly shocking development, he alleges his wife was falsely arrested. He describes it as a calculated act of intimidation designed to silence him.
The Accused: Donlon's lawsuit names some very high-profile individuals, including:
- Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry
- Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard
- Chief of Department John Chell
- Former Deputy Commissioner Michael Gerber
- Chief Jeffrey Maddrey

What's Donlon Fighting For?

Thomas Donlon is not seeking monetary damages for himself, but rather structural, systemic change within the NYPD. His lawsuit directly calls for the appointment of a federal monitor, an independent, court-appointed expert to oversee crucial aspects of the department's operations.

Specifically, Donlon aims for this monitor to intervene in NYPD promotions, ensuring merit-based advancement free from political influence or alleged fraudulent practices.

The monitor would also scrutinize the department's disciplinary actions, ensuring accountability and fairness in addressing misconduct, and, perhaps most critically, establish robust mechanisms for whistleblower protections to prevent retaliation against those who expose wrongdoing.

Donlon's stance is that the alleged culture of corruption is so deeply entrenched that only an outside authority, empowered by a federal court, can effectively implement and enforce the necessary reforms to restore integrity and public trust within the nation's largest police force.

This type of oversight has been a tool in other major police departments facing systemic issues, aiming for sustained compliance with constitutional policing standards.

The Adams Administration's Response: "Baseless"

Mayor Eric Adams and City Hall were quick to hit back, dismissing Donlon’s allegations as "absurd," "baseless," and simply the actions of a "disgruntled former employee."

Mayor Adams himself characterized Donlon as ineffective during his brief stint as interim commissioner, completely rejecting the lawsuit’s claims as having no merit whatsoever.

This lawsuit transcends a singular complaint, joining a series of legal actions.

At least four additional former high-ranking NYPD officials have reportedly filed separate lawsuits alleging similar patterns of misconduct, including promotion irregularities and systemic corruption under Mayor Adams' administration. (Source: AP News)

Donlon's federal filing intensifies public and legal demands for transparency and independent oversight within the NYPD. The timing is particularly salient as Mayor Adams is actively pursuing an independent campaign for the November 2025 mayoral election, making these allegations a critical factor that could significantly influence his political trajectory and the upcoming electoral landscape.

What You Need to Know

Is the NYPD under federal investigation? Not directly at this time, but Donlon's lawsuit is a direct demand for federal oversight of the department through the appointment of an independent monitor, a remedy sometimes used in cases of systemic police misconduct.

What are the main allegations? The lawsuit alleges that the NYPD, under Mayor Adams' loyalists, operates as a criminal enterprise involved in fraudulent promotions, racketeering, wire fraud, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and retaliation against whistleblowers.

How has Mayor Adams responded? Mayor Adams and City Hall officials have denied all claims, publicly dismissing the lawsuit as "absurd," "baseless," and the work of a "disgruntled former employee."

Who is Thomas Donlon? Thomas Donlon served as interim NYPD Commissioner from September to November 2024. Prior to that, he had a distinguished career in law enforcement, including roles as a respected FBI official specializing in counterterrorism and as New York's Director of the Office of Homeland Security. He is now acting as a whistleblower through this significant legal action.