Senior staff shakeups are commonplace under a new police commissioner, but the storm of resignations and reassignments within the NYPD over the past three days — including the chief’s resignation of department Jeffrey Maddrey amid explosive sexual misconduct allegations — came as a shock to the system with the head of the Bureau of Internal Affairs the latest high-ranking cop to get the ax.
Internal Affairs Chief Miguel Iglesias “has been removed from his position and has informed the department of his intention to retire,” the New York Police Department announced in a statement Saturday evening – just hours after the announcement of the Maddrey’s abrupt resignation.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch named Chief Edward Thompson to replace Iglesias as acting IAB boss.
Maddrey’s quick departure came after former NYPD Lt. Quathisha Epps claimed he repeatedly asked her for sex “in exchange for overtime opportunities in the workplace,” according to a complaint filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
This led to revelations that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office was investigating Maddrey’s conduct and that the city’s Department of Investigation and federal authorities were looking into allegations of overtime abuse.
Investigations are expected to focus on possible misuse of budget codes used by officers to designate reasons for overtime, the sources said.
Jefferson Siegel for the New York Daily News
Police officer Quathisha Epps is pictured in 2011. (Jefferson Siegel for the New York Daily News)
Epps filed for retirement last Monday after the Daily News reported that she earned more than $400,000 in fiscal year 2024, including $204,000 in overtime for 1,626 hours a year. She was suspended Wednesday and has retained attorney Eric Sanders, a former cop who specializes in representing police officers in lawsuits against the city.
After the reports of Epps’ overtime, the New York Police Department ordered an internal review of his hours, as well as his role in promotions and transfers within the department, police sources said. This review predates Epps’ allegations against Maddrey.
Maddrey began forcing Epps, a cancer survivor, “to perform unwanted sexual favors” starting in June 2023, usually in her office at police headquarters, according to her complaint.
When Epps “finally found the courage to reject Chief Maddrey’s advances,” he retaliated by falsifying a monthly overtime report to falsely portray her as a cheater, she claims.
She also alleges that the overtime roster was constantly changed to protect top earners, including Maddrey, Patrol Chief John Chell and NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Operations Kaz Daughtry. Chell was named interim department head following Maddrey’s departure.
On Saturday, the department transferred a lieutenant, a sergeant and 16 detectives from police headquarters offices, according to transfer orders shared with The News.
Three of the detectives were from Maddrey’s office, but it was not immediately clear whether that decision had anything to do with Epps’ allegations.
The transfers come just two days after Tisch made a number of administrative appointments, including to head the department’s public information and technology offices.
Tisch named Delaney Kempner as the new deputy commissioner of public information, replacing controversial top spokesperson Tarik Sheppard. Kempner spent the last four years as communications director for New York State Attorney General Letitia James.
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