The head of New York’s Police Department, Jeffrey Maddrey, tendered his resignation on Friday night in light of sexual favor accusations raised by one of his subordinates, Quathisha Epps. In an allegation that emerged over the weekend, Lieutenant Epps claimed Maddrey engaged in a manipulative pattern of sexual harassment in return for overtime options. Epps, who was the highest wage earner in the force in 2024, contests that she was falsely flagged for overtime misuse by Maddrey, leading to an unjust suspension from her duties without compensation. In response to the resignation, Epps’ legal representative stated that it was a development that had been a long time coming.
Jeffrey Maddrey, however, refutes the charges leveled against him, deeming them to be completely without substance. Acknowledging Maddrey’s departure, the Police Commissioner announced that the police unit’s Chief of Patrol, John Chell, will step up to serve as the temporary Chief of Department. Concurrently, Chell’s role will be shouldered by Philip Rivera, who will assume the mantle of the head of the patrol division in the interim.
During their tenures, both interim chiefs will prioritize lowering crime rates and fostering a deeper sense of public trust. Parallel to this, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has initiated an investigation into the accusations lodged by Lt. Epps. Underscoring the serious nature of the claims, the Mayor referred to the situation as being deeply concerning and promised to facilitate a complete review.
It should be noted that Jeffrey Maddrey, in his tenure, had been subjected to other similar accusations of improper conduct. Maddrey has had to navigate allegations in the past from a commanding officer and a former law enforcement officer, both of whom claimed that Maddrey had demonstrated coercive and inappropriate behavior.
Maddrey began his career with the New York Police Department back in 1991. He earned his stripes over the years, first ascending to the rank of Chief of Patrol in 2021 and subsequently taking on the task of Chief of Department in 2023. As part of his duties, Maddrey was responsible for crafting and implementing the crime prevention strategies and procedural plans for the department.
Epps’ lawyer expressed criticisms towards the NYPD’s response to allegations of misconduct, opining that her client’s case brought to light the failures permeating the system. A party who accused Jeffrey Maddrey in the past expressed satisfaction at his resignation, stating that his departure was confirmation of her longstanding grievances of harassment.
As the department remains embroiled in these controversies, it has pledged to exercise due diligence and undertake a thorough investigation into all disclosed allegations. Emphasizing its commitment to maintaining integrity and professionalism, NYPD reiterated its dedication to addressing any misconduct that may arise within its ranks.