NEW YORK CITY, USA – Former New York Police Department, NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, who resigned last week amid allegations of sexual misconduct, admitted through his lawyer on Friday to having a “consensual, adult relationship” with a subordinate but denied claims of coercion or quid pro quo harassment.
Maddrey’s attorney, Lambros Lambrou, spoke to reporters at his Manhattan law office, addressing the allegations raised by Lt. Quathisha Epps in a complaint to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
“Lt. Epps got caught with her hand in the cookie jar and is trying to deflect her wrongdoing by making these allegations against Chief Maddrey,” Lambrou said.
The lawyer characterised the relationship as brief and consensual, adding that Maddrey lacked the authority to approve overtime pay for Epps.
Lambrou also alleged he possessed text messages, phone records, and explicit media sent by Epps to Maddrey, which he claimed initiated the relationship.
The Allegations Against Maddrey
Lt. Epps accused Maddrey of engaging in “quid pro quo sexual harassment,” alleging that he coerced her into performing sexual acts in exchange for overtime opportunities.
She further contended that Maddrey retaliated against her when she pushed back, prompting an investigation into her overtime practices.
Epps, who served in an administrative role in Maddrey’s office, was the NYPD’s top earner in fiscal year 2024, taking home more than $400,000—over half of which was attributed to overtime pay, according to city payroll data.
Lambrou disputed the timeline of Epps’ claims, asserting that she was already under investigation for overtime abuse before filing her EEOC complaint.
Epps’ Legal Response
Epps’ lawyer, Eric Sanders, said Lambrou’s admission of a sexual relationship between Maddrey and Epps undermined earlier denials of the allegations.
“We have a treasure trove of digital data that will hopefully bring this degenerate to justice,” Sanders said in a statement.
A History of Controversy
Maddrey, a 33-year veteran of the NYPD, was a close ally of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain.
Promoted to chief of patrol in 2021 and later to chief of department, Maddrey’s rise through the ranks was not without controversy.
In 2022, he faced internal disciplinary action for allegedly lying to investigators about a prior affair with another subordinate.
Despite the disciplinary history, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch promoted Maddrey to chief of department, making him the NYPD’s highest-ranking uniformed officer.
Maddrey tendered his resignation on December 20, effective immediately.
Commissioner Tisch has since appointed John Chell, the former chief of patrol, as interim chief of department.
NYPD’s Response and Leadership Turmoil
The NYPD declined to comment directly on the allegations against Maddrey, issuing only a statement affirming its commitment to investigating claims of sexual misconduct thoroughly.
Maddrey’s resignation is the latest in a series of scandals that have rocked the leadership of the nation’s largest police department.
In September, former Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned after federal agents searched his home in connection with a broad investigation into Mayor Adams’ inner circle.
Soon after, Timothy Pearson, a close Adams adviser with oversight of the NYPD, stepped down following the seizure of devices and cash from his home during a separate investigation.
Pearson has also faced sexual harassment allegations from multiple colleagues.
Neither Caban nor Pearson have been charged with any crimes and have denied any wrongdoing.
Looking Ahead
As the NYPD grapples with another high-profile scandal, it faces increasing scrutiny over its leadership and handling of internal misconduct allegations.
The EEOC investigation into Maddrey’s case is ongoing, with both sides preparing to defend their positions in what could be a lengthy legal battle.
