NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban quits amid federal probe

Edward Caban, the city’s first Hispanic police commissioner, resigned Thursday under pressure amid a federal criminal investigation that led to the FBI's seizure of cellphones belonging to him, other NYPD personnel and his twin brother.

Caban’s resignation was announced midday in a virtual address by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and was preceded by a letter of resignation sent to Adams, whose administration is itself the subject of separate federal investigations into his mayoralty and political campaign.

In a departmentwide email, Caban, 57, said he made what he called the "difficult decision to resign as Police Commissioner," because of "the news around recent developments has create a distraction for our department and I am unwilling to let my attention be on anything but our important work."

Adams spoke remotely because of what he has said is a bout of COVID-19. He said the resignation "is the best decision at this time. I respect his decision and wish him well." He took no questions.

He said he's appointed former FBI official Thomas G. Donlon as interim police commissioner, who will serve until a permanent replacement is picked.

Donlon will oversee about 34,000 officers, the country's largest police force.

"I am honored and humbled to be named interim-Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, the greatest law enforcement agency in the world," Donlon said in a statement released by Adams' press office. "My goals are clear: continue the historic progress decreasing crime and removing illegal guns from our communities, uphold the highest standards of integrity and transparency and support our dedicated officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe."

Since retiring from the FBI, Donlon has run Global Security Resolutions, a private security and consulting firm in lower Manhattan. According to the firm’s website, Donlon was assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force in the FBI’s New York office, where he was co-case agent on the 1993 World Trade Center bombing investigation. Donlon was also involved in a series of major terrorism investigations, including the 1998 East Africa U.S. Embassy bombing, the USS Cole bombing, as well as Sept. 11.

Donlon also served as New York’ s Director of Office of Homeland Security.

Caban’s resignation comes amid the federal investigation, which law enforcement sources and news reports said was sparked by private business dealings of his twin brother, James.

Neither Caban, his brother nor any officials with the NYPD have been charged with wrongdoing, and federal officials have not commented on the focus of the investigation. But reports said the investigation is centered on James’ business and connections with private security and nightclubs.

In a statement issued later Thursday, Edward Caban’s attorneys Russell Capone and Rebekah Donaleski lauded their client’s public service and added the government said Caban "is not a target of any investigation being conducted by the Southern District of New York, and he expects to cooperate fully with the government."

Former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton told Newsday, "I think he did the right thing for himself, his family and the department."

The police-focused investigation appears to be separate from probes into public corruption and campaign financing involving Adams and his circle, as well as business dealings of persons with personal and professional relationships with the mayor.

Last week, the FBI raided the homes of three high-ranking officials in Adams’ administration as part of an investigation, a source familiar with the matter said. Federal agents searched the homes of Philip Banks, deputy mayor for public safety, and Sheena Wright, the first deputy mayor, who lives with New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks.

Electronic devices from both houses were seized in the searches, The Associated Press reported.

Additionally, a pair of high-ranking NYPD officials were asked to hand over their phones to federal authorities, according to spokesman Tarik Sheppard. He declined at the time to name the officials and could not say if the seizure was related to the other search warrants. A law enforcement official who didn't want to be identified said federal investigators seized the phone of NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban.

"The Department is aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York involving members of service," Sheppard said in a statement. "The Department is fully cooperating in the investigation."

Federal investigators also raided the home of Tim Pearson, a law enforcement adviser to the mayor who once worked in the NYPD, The Associated Press reported.

Manhattan federal prosecutor Damian Williams declined to comment on the raids last week.

Newsday previously reported the federal probes into the Adams administration have focused on favors to the Turkish government, pressure on FDNY personnel to sign off on fire inspections, free high-dollar seat upgrades on Turkish Airways, straw donors and potentially illegal campaign contributions.

Caban took over as police commissioner in July 2023 after then-commissioner Keechant Sewell, a longtime Nassau County police official, abruptly quit over what law enforcement sources said was her disillusionment at being micromanaged by Adams and his staff, notably Deputy Mayor Phil Banks. At the time, Adams would not comment on the reasons Sewell gave for her resignation.

Caban, who is of Puerto Rican descent and was raised in the Bronx, joined the NYPD in 1991 and rose through the ranks until in 2022 he was tapped to be first deputy commissioner under Sewell. The move to first deputy put Caban in line to replace Sewell when she quit, and in 2023 Adams appointed him commissioner.

His term as the 47th NYPD commissioner ends officially at end of business day Friday, the police department said.