【By Observer Net, Wang Yi】According to the U.S. "Wall Street Journal" and CNN, on July 16, Thomas Donlon, former Police Commissioner of New York City, has filed a lawsuit in federal court, accusing Mayor Eric Adams, who worked for the New York Police Department for more than 20 years, and several senior officials of the department of abuse of power, running a "criminal enterprise".

CNN said that the corruption allegations against Adams are the latest blow to the mayor, who had recently escaped federal corruption charges and is now seeking re-election as an independent candidate, but faces a difficult path to victory. The Democratic Party in New York City does not support Adams, they generally believe that Adams has little chance of being re-elected, and many even call for him to resign or be removed immediately.

Donlon's lawsuit directly targets Mayor Adams, claiming that he tolerated illegal promotions by senior officials of the police department, retaliated against dissenting officials, hindered internal investigations, and used his power and connections to undermine his authority as Police Commissioner.

In his complaint, Donlon stated that he hopes a federal overseer will be appointed to supervise the New York Police Department to "ensure compliance with the law and prevent further abuses of power."

Photo of Thomas Donlon when he was Police Commissioner of New York City, provided by the Office of the Mayor of New York City

"This is an unfounded accusation from a disgruntled former employee. When given the opportunity to lead the greatest police department in the world, Donlon proved his incompetence," said Kayla Mamelak Altus, a spokesperson for the city hall, in a statement. "This lawsuit is merely an attempt to seek compensation from taxpayers after Mr. Donlon was lawfully removed from the position of interim police commissioner."

Donlon previously served as Director of the Office of Homeland Security in New York City, leading the FBI National Threat Operations Center and a joint counter-terrorism task force between the FBI and the NYPD. In September 2024, he succeeded Edward Caban, who resigned over a nightclub investigation scandal, as interim police commissioner, but was forced to resign within two months.

It was reported that before his resignation, federal agents searched some confidential documents from decades ago in Donlon's home, and Donlon insisted these documents were unrelated to his position at the police department.

It was during this short tenure that Donlon claimed he witnessed "systemic corruption" within the New York Police Department. He stated in his lawsuit that the "core operations of the department involve deliberate favoritism, retaliation, and concealment to protect allies and silence internal criticism. Promotions and assignments are rewards for obedience, not merit. Violations are covered up rather than corrected."

According to Donlon's account, he had tried to bring the issue of corruption directly to Adams, but was subsequently marginalized, "deprived of power, systematically excluded from core decision-making, continuously deceived, and ultimately removed from the position of Police Commissioner."

"Donlon's integrity was seen as a threat, and the 'criminal enterprise' retaliated immediately," the lawsuit stated.

This lawsuit is the fifth in the past two weeks targeting internal corruption within the New York Police Department. A week earlier, four former high-ranking officials, including former Chief Inspector James Essig, also filed similar lawsuits, accusing the NYPD leadership of selling promotion opportunities for $15,000, placing unreviewed allies in key positions, and retaliating against and forcing those who exposed internal issues to resign. Matthew Pontillo, who previously oversaw professional standards, alleged that he was sidelined for expressing concerns about the misuse of police chase permissions and body cameras.

The scandal of nepotism within the NYPD erupted once in 2022. At that time, Adams appointed his own brother Bernard Adams, a parking lot manager and retired police chief, as deputy commissioner. The New York Times at the time sarcastically noted that Adams appointed a parking lot manager and retired police chief to such a high-level position simply because "he was the mayor's brother," and "the mayor said that due to the rise of white supremacy and anarchism, he could not trust anyone else in the police department as much as his relatives."

Sarena Townsend, a lawyer representing the four former high-ranking officials, responded to Donlon's lawsuit, saying, "Even though Donlon's term was short, he recognized the problems that my long-serving clients have complained about: Adams and his associates' rampant, uncontrolled, dangerous, and costly corruption. I applaud Donlon for coming forward with these details, which will undoubtedly clear his name and that of others harmed by Adams' corruption."

Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, IC Photo

Notably, Adams himself was a police inspector. He previously stated that he joined the police department because he was treated unfairly by the NYPD when he was young, hoping to lead internal reforms within the department.

In 2024, Adams was indicted by federal prosecutors for telecom fraud, bribery, and soliciting donations from foreigners, becoming the first sitting mayor in New York City to face criminal charges. Adams has consistently denied any wrongdoing. These charges were eventually dropped by the Department of Justice under the Trump administration in April of this year.

CNN reported that the timing of the Trump administration dropping the charges against Adams coincided with increased immigration enforcement across the country, leading many of Adams' critics and political opponents to question whether there was a "power deal" between him and the Trump administration, where he exchanged cooperation on immigration enforcement for his freedom.

Corruption is just one of the problems within the American police system. In Los Angeles County, there are even gang-like organizations within the police department, which bully the weak and have once controlled the station commanders. CBS previously reported that the county's oversight department found that there are 19 gangs related to at least 59 legal cases within the police system, some of which can be traced back to the early 1990s.

CBS cited reports stating that at least since the 1980s, perhaps as early as the early 1970s, similar gang-like groups have been active, operating under the noses of management without being punished or disbanded.

This article is an exclusive article by Observer Net. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7527947932382609955/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking the [upvote/downvote] buttons below.