New York City Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban resigned last fall amid a federal investigation into corruption allegations. Caban was implicated in a scandal involving a nightclub security business owned by his twin brother, where he is accused of using power and influence from his position to benefit the enterprise.
According to reports at the time, Caban’s phone had been seized by federal authorities during the investigation, after which he resigned a week later. Caban explained his motivation to step down, claiming the “news around recent developments” had “created a distraction for our department.” He added, “I am unwilling to let my attention be on anything other than our important work, or the safety of the men and women of the NYPD.”
Mayor Eric Adams weighed in on the news, stating, “I spent more than 20 years in law enforcement.” The mayor maintained, “And so, every member of the administration knows my expectations that we must follow the law.” At the time, federal investigations had encompassed several different New York City officials within Adams’ inner circle.
Speaking about Caban, Adams said, “He concluded that this is the best decision at this time…I respect his decision and I wish him well.” During a press conference, the mayor claimed Caban’s leadership had made New York City safer. Adams appointed retired FBI official Tom Donlon to serve as the interim police commissioner amid Caban’s departure.
Donlon said, “I am honored and humbled to be named interim-Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, the greatest law enforcement agency in the world. My goals are clear: continue the historic progress decreasing crime and removing illegal guns from our communities, uphold the highest standards of integrity and transparency, and support our dedicated officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe.”
However, The American Tribune reported in late September that the FBI had raided Donlon’s home shortly after stepping up to serve as the interim commissioner, reportedly, authorities were seeking to determine if if he took classified information while working for the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. He previously served as the FBI’s National Threat Assessment Center and the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force.
“On Friday, September 20, federal authorities executed search warrants at my residences,” Donlon said in a statement, shared by the NYPD News account read. “They took materials that came into my possession approximately 20 years ago and are unrelated to my work with the New York City Police Department.” He added, “This is not a department matter, and the department will not be commenting.”
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In 2023, Eric Adams was also swept up in controversy when the FBI seized the mayor’s phones during an investigation into his campaign fundraising. According to reports, the FBI seized cell phones and an iPad in a probe led by the FBI and the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York to determine whether foreign money was funneled into his mayoral campaign.
Watch Mayor Adams urge citizens to stop claiming crime is up in NYC in previous remarks: