Amid a scandal shaking the very foundations of the NYPD, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has taken dramatic action by removing several top brass from their positions within the department. Among these is Deputy Chief Chris Morello of the Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB), according to documents acquired by The Post. These revelations follow closely on the heels of allegations that Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey traded overtime for sexual favors.
Commissioner Tisch's swift move to also reassign six members of Maddrey's office indicates an intent to not only clean house but to seemingly restore trust in a department tarnished by the recent scandal. Inspector Joseph Profeta, who led IAB’s Group 1, and Inspector Michael Ricciardi of IAB Special Ops, are among those disciplined, as reported by The Post. These moves come in the wake of Maddrey's abrupt retirement after the accusations and an expose by The Post on December 21, revealing the alleged abuses by Maddrey involving Lt. Quathisha Epps.
With the department still reeling, Epps detailed her encounters with Maddrey in an interview with The Post, claiming coercion into sexual acts in exchange for overtime pay, an accusation Maddrey denies. His lawyer has publicly stated that Maddrey's relationship with Epps was consensual and that he lacked the authority to sign off on her overtime. Despite his denial, Mayor Eric Adams has expressed dismay over the situation, calling the allegations "extremely concerning and alarming" in comments to the press.
NBC New York reports that Commissioner Tisch announced the departure of Chief of Internal Affairs Miguel Iglesias and the appointment of Edward Thompson as his replacement, emphasizing the need for the IAB to always "be dedicated to preserving integrity and rooting out corruption in all its forms." The reasons behind Iglesias' ousting have not been made clear, but the shake-up suggests that Tisch is decisively aiming to address any perceived lack of oversight within the IAB.
This overhaul takes place amid ongoing investigations into the allegations against Maddrey by the offices of the Manhattan District Attorney, the Department of Justice, and the Southern District of New York. A spokesperson for the NYPD has stated in the NBC report that the department "takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and will thoroughly investigate this matter" reiterating a commitment to addressing concerns of misconduct within its ranks.
