The NYPD’s Chief of Department, Jeffrey Maddrey, resigned on Friday night following allegations of sexual misconduct while on duty. Maddrey is accused of exchanging sexual favors for overtime hours.
On Saturday, Lieutenant Quathisha Epps filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the city, alleging that Maddrey had engaged in “quid pro quo sexual harassment” by pressuring her to provide unwanted sexual favors in return for overtime opportunities at work. According to Epps’s attorney, this action was long overdue.
Epps, who held an administrative position in Maddrey’s office, claimed that when she finally resisted his demands, he retaliated by accusing her of misusing overtime, which led the department to initiate a review.
Local reports indicate that Epps was the highest paid employee in her department for 2024, earning over $400,000 thanks to overtime.
Eric Sanders, Epps’s attorney, stated that his client was suspended without pay, even though she had submitted her retirement notice earlier that week.
A spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement on Saturday, saying:
“We are deeply troubled by these allegations, and the NYPD is actively investigating this matter. Mayor Adams is closely coordinating with Police Commissioner Tisch as the NYPD conducts a separate department-wide review to ensure that no high-ranking officers are abusing their power. We will refrain from further comments to avoid compromising either investigation.”
Epps alleges that she began providing sexual favors to Maddrey in 2023 in exchange for overtime and only recently stopped responding to his advances.
John Chell, the department’s chief of patrol, will step in as the interim chief of department, while Philip Rivera will take over Chell’s responsibilities as the head of the patrol division.
