A high-ranking figure from the New York Police Department (NYPD) recently confirmed having an intimate relationship with a junior officer, while rejecting allegations of requiring sexual favors for additional compensation. This official rebuffed the widely circulated claims that he solicited sexual ‘quid pro quo’ from Lt. Quathisha Epps, promising inflated overtime compensation and special benefits. He completely denied granting any overtime to her or exerting any form of pressure on her.
When probed about forcing any junior officer to offer sexual favors, he categorically denied such charges, characterizing the relationship with Epps as a casual office affair. Though he did not deny the romantic entanglement with a subordinate, he clearly denied any suggestion of trading sexual activities for overtime pay or preferred treatment.
The senior official explained, ‘Lt. Epps and I began working together in the early months of 2022. Our working relationship stretched for approximately a year and a half. One thing led to another, leading to a stint of a casual office affair. It was simply an office affair and nothing more.’ He diminished any implication of the relationship holding any serious weight between them both.
Discussing the nature of the affair, he said, ‘We met a few times, and honestly, there wasn’t much to it. No romantic feelings were involved. We did not consider ourselves a couple.’ While he confirmed the liaison as ‘absolutely consensual’, he confessed its impropriety.
Admitting to the unprofessional situation, he mentioned, ‘It wasn’t right for me to be involved with anyone on the team,’ citing this as the primary grounds for his resignation. ‘I decided to resign because I realized I exhibited poor judgement,’ he explained.
This revelation came shortly after he suddenly quit his job amid rising allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct. Lt. Epps levied allegations against him on December 21, through a complaint presented against the city to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
In her complaint, Epps accused him of employing ‘quid pro quo sexual harassment’ tactics by pressuring her to engage in undesired sexual acts to secure overtime opportunities at work. As a holder of an administrative role in his office, Epps stood as the highest-paid employee for the NYPD in the financial year 2024.
From payroll data, it was revealed that she brought in an impressive figure of more than $400,000, where overtime payments made up over half of it. Epps holds that when she resisted his advances, he took revenge by accusing her of overtime exploitation, inducing the department to kick-off a review.
His counsel highlighted that the timeline seemed off because the review regarding Epps was already in motion before she lodged her complaint. In conversations with journalists, he elucidated that the 33-year NYPD veteran had a willing, adult relationship with Epps without having any power over approving overtime.
Meanwhile, he and his lawyer claimed having proof to substantiate their statements about the consensual nature of the relationship, which includes personal text messages and intimate pictures. Epps and her legal team, however, did not offer any immediate feedback on these declarations.
Epps’ attorney mentioned that admitting to the sexual relationship with Epps contradicts his earlier denial of any facet of the accusations. ‘We hold a plentiful amount of digital evidence which will bring this wrongdoer to justice,’ the attorney expressed.
The NYPD restricted their comments on the issue, affirming their commitment to ‘thoroughly investigat[e] all complaints of sexual misconduct.’ They declined to comment further on the allegations against him.
He started his service with the NYPD in 1991 and ascended up the ranks to the rank of patrol chief in 2021. Despite a trail of internal disciplinary issues, including being accused of lying about an affair with a different subordinate during an investigation, he was promoted to the role of chief of department in 2023.