New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban speaks during a press conference for the Season 1 Crime Briefing in Manhattan, New York City, Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
Barry Williams | Tribune News Service | Getty Images
new york police department Commissioner Edward Caban He resigned from the nation’s largest police department on Thursday amid a federal investigation into his nightclub enforcement. According to the memo News 4 obtained.
“My entire focus must be on the New York Police Department – a department to which I am deeply honored and to which I have dedicated my career,” his statement said in part. “However, the noise of recent developments makes that impossible and hinders the important work our city needs. Therefore, I have decided to resign as commissioner, which is in the best interest of the department.”
“After 30 years of service to this city, I have a deep respect and gratitude for our brave officers and must put their interests before my own,” he added. “I firmly believe in leadership with integrity. People matter and they lead by example every day and demonstrate the difference between right and wrong. I will continue to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.”
Caban was appointed to the position in July 2023, becoming the first Latino to serve as chief in the 179-year history of the New York City Police Department. It is unclear when the resignation will take effect.
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That means Mayor Eric Adams is considering appointing his third police chief in less than three years.
Adams said at an afternoon press conference that he had accepted the resignation and wished Caban well. He also stated that his government, A series of investigations shockedstill focusing on governing the city. He announced Tom Donlon, who has extensive experience in law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels of government, as interim pick.
Earlier this week, Adams declined to say whether Caban was prohibited from communicating with federal law enforcement agencies that work closely with the NYPD.
The situation developed a few days later News 4 reports The IRS Criminal Investigation Division has joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York Inquiry.
At least one of several phones in SDNY and IRS belongs to Caban Seized from multiple NYPD officers.His twin brother owns a nightclub security company and his mobile phone was confiscated in a corruption investigation.
Federal investigators in New York want to know whether James Caban profited from his ties to his powerful brother and the New York Police Department, several sources told NBC. Specifically, the investigation is looking into whether James Caban accepted payments from bars and clubs in Midtown and Queens to serve as a police liaison, and whether the clubs received special treatment from local jurisdictions, sources said.
Sources said other issues being investigated include whether officials would be asked to crack down harder on clubs that do not do business with the commissioner’s brother, or whether promotions would be offered to officials involved in the potential scheme.
An NYPD spokesman said the department is aware of the incident and is fully cooperating with the investigation.
No one has been charged.
In a joint statement Thursday, Caban’s attorneys praised his legacy as a public servant.
Partners Russell Capone and Rebekah Donaleski said, “Commissioner Capone is an accomplished public servant who has dedicated his life to serving this great city. people’s safety and maintain unwavering respect for the men and women of the New York City Police Department,” Cooley LLP said in a statement. “The government informed us that he is not a target of any investigation in the Southern District of New York and that he expects to cooperate fully with the government.”
After receiving the initial investigative report, News 4 left several messages with James Caban’s cell phone and a family member. They were not returned.
