NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey resigns amid bombshell sex abuse claims

Graham Rayman and Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News on Dec 21, 2024

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NEW YORK — NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey resigned abruptly Friday night amid bombshell allegations from a female New York City Police Department lieutenant who accused him of predatory sexual harassment, the Daily News has learned.

In allegations that surfaced Saturday, Quathisha Epps claims that Maddrey repeatedly demanded sex from her and then paid her back by approving massive amounts of overtime.

Epps filed for retirement on Monday after The News reported she earned more than $400,000 in fiscal 2024, including $204,000 in overtime for 1,626 hours in the year. She was then suspended on Wednesday, though police sources said the suspension wasn’t transmitted throughout the department as is normal.

She recently retained attorney Eric Sanders, a former cop who specializes in representing police officers in claims against the city.

The NYPD confirmed Maddrey’s departure Saturday morning.

“Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch accepted the resignation of Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey Friday night, effective immediately,” an NYPD spokesman said. “The NYPD takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and will thoroughly investigate this matter.”

NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell has been named interim chief of department in Maddrey’s absence. Chief Philip Rivera, the department’s chief of transportation, will assume the role of interim chief of patrol, NYPD officials said.

Epps’ salary made her the highest-earning cop in the NYPD. Critics inside and outside the NYPD have questioned how she could have worked that much overtime, especially since Epps’ role for Maddrey was administrative in nature.

But word that Epps is now going to sue Maddrey adds a new element to the case, indicating that the overtime was tied to a coercive environment Maddrey created.

Police sources said the review is broader than Epps’ earnings alone. It may include other misconduct within Maddrey’s office.

Maddrey’s attorney Lambros Lambrou denied the allegations Saturday.

“What a convenient time to accuse somebody of misconduct now that she’s been suspended by the NYPD and accused of stealing time,” Lambrou said. “She’s obviously drowning and in the deep end of the pool without a lifesaver. She wants to take down as many people as she can. This is completely meritless, and we deny every aspect of it.”

Maddrey has been under scrutiny in the past, including for a confrontation with a police officer named Tabatha Foster who claims she was involved with him, and acting to squash the arrest of a friend of his who threatened three teens with a gun.

Sanders represented Foster in an initial lawsuit against Maddrey before she retained another lawyer.

Community activist Dana Rachlin sued Maddrey and other top brass claiming they orchestrated a campaign to ruin her career for her criticism of police tactics in Brooklyn.

NYPD Chief Miltiadis Marmara also sued Maddrey last summer alleging Maddrey orchestrated a campaign to sideline his career after he defended a female sergeant against sexual harassment by former senior mayoral adviser Timothy Pearson.

“Maddrey has long abused his position within the department to satisfy his own sexual desires and retaliate against women who refuse to acquiesce to his or his associates’ advances,” said John Scola, who represents Chief Marmara. “We hope that with Maddrey’s resignation and the appointment of a new police commissioner, the NYPD can finally begin to purge the toxic culture of sexual harassment within its ranks.”

On Dec. 18, Capt. Gabrielle Walls filed an amended complaint in a lawsuit against the city, alleging that Maddrey sexually harassed her over a seven-year period between 2015 and 2022.

Among the claims, she alleged Maddrey would touch and kiss the wives of lower ranking cops during his lavish Christmas parties. At one party, a cop confronted Maddrey for hitting on his wife and a fight erupted.

Walls claims Maddrey repeatedly hit on her at these parties. At another of the parties, Maddrey tried to drunkenly kiss Walls, and told her to “call him Jeff.”

Maddrey then told Walls that he “was going to mold her” and asked her to “let him know when you get close to being a captain so I can help you.”

At another party, Maddrey told Walls, “I want you so badly. You smell so good. I want you so badly. You turn me on so much. You smell so good,” the lawsuit alleges.

Walls initially sued Chief Scott Henderson, alleging he repeatedly blocked her from getting a precinct command after she rejected his romantic overtures. Walls’ lawyer Scola then added Maddrey and former Police Commissioner Edward Caban as defendants.

Despite those controversies and others, Maddrey has been able to remain a favored son within the top echelons of the NYPD, and has been defended by Mayor Adams and former commissioner Caban.

Maddrey recently became a lawyer, signaling that he was close to retirement after a 33-year career.