The New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) highest-ranking uniformed officer, Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, has resigned after allegations of demanding sexual favors from a subordinate were made public. The allegations were made by Lieutenant Quathisha Epps, who claimed that Maddrey repeatedly preyed upon her, asking for sex in exchange for overtime and other benefits.
According to Epps, Maddrey’s demands started after he became Chief of Department in June 2023 and continued for several months. She alleged that he would often make sexual advances towards her in his office, including asking her to engage in sexual activities and showing her explicit images of himself. Epps also claimed that she was forced to perform sexual acts on Maddrey on multiple occasions, including one instance where she was made to perform oral sex on him.
Epps, who is also a high earner, having pulled in a whopping $400,000 in 2023, including $204,000 in overtime, said that she was desperate to leave the department, but was fearful that no one would believe her allegations. She has since consulted with an attorney and plans to file a notice of claim with the city comptroller’s office.
Maddrey, a close friend of Mayor Adams, has denied all allegations, claiming that Epps is motivated by revenge and retaliation. His attorney, Lambros Lambrou, described Epps as “drowning and in the deep end of the pool without a lifesaver” and claimed that she was trying to take down as many people as she could.
The NYPD has announced that Chief of Patrol John Chell will take over on an interim basis. The department is conducting an investigation into the allegations, stating that it takes all claims of sexual misconduct seriously. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is also available to provide support and resources to victims of sexual assault.