Adams' favorites disgraced the NYPD in 2024

Even before Eric Adams became New York City’s mayor three tumultuous years ago, suspicion stalked the political world that his penchant for rascality might soon overshadow governance in the new administration.

More than a decade earlier, Adams chaired the State Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee. A state inspector general’s report in Albany raised alarms about how he helped pick a questionable slot machine vendor for gaming at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens.

The report said Adams gave noncredible testimony to investigators, showed "exceedingly poor judgment" attending a "victory" party for the selection, and got campaign cash from the company.

This year he became the first mayor in the city's history to be federally indicted. He faces those corruption charges going into a reelection year.

Adams’ chaotic tenure has a unique subplot — favoritism and corruption high up in the New York Police Department. It’s a special kind of disgrace because Adams’ political career is rooted in the NYPD — where he retired after 22 years with the rank of captain. His campaign pitch was about bringing a new, racially fair brand of law and order.

But while in the department, Adams did some sharp-elbowed politicking, by all accounts. He ended up leading a group called 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, a title sometimes confused with the older, prestigious national mentoring foundation 100 Black Men.

In this extracurricular role, Adams would sometimes lobby One Police Plaza to get certain group members promoted — or have disciplinary charges softened, as would a political fixer. 

Paul Browne, who was a top aide under ex-police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who served under mayors David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg, recalls Adams’ "transactional" style. Adams would publicly hail the commissioner if top brass would "play ball," Browne has said, and Kelly refused, earning bad "grades" from Adams.

Adams’ actions back in the day may have foreshadowed the way the NYPD is run today.

This week, Jeffrey Maddrey, long shielded by Adams, quit as the department’s top chief while lurid sex-for-overtime allegations against him surfaced.

Edward Caban was forced out earlier as commissioner amid allegations his twin brother offered bar owners to get the NYPD off their backs about noise, for a $2,500 "consulting fee." Caban’s predecessor Keechant Sewell — apparently after trying to do the job right — left amid City Hall’s unhelpful interference and never spoke of it in public.

Longtime Adams confidant Tim Pearson had an oddly privileged role as both $250,000-plus executive for Resorts International and official at the city’s Economic Development Corp. Pearson resigned after federal agents seized his phones.

All this occurs as Gov. Kathy Hochul and new Commissioner Jessica Tisch announce extra National Guard soldiers and security cameras to stem crime and reduce apprehension in the subways.

After Bill de Blasio’s widely-panned eight-year tenure, command of the NYPD was going to be Adams’ strong suit.

Or so voters wished.

Columnist Dan Janison's opinions are his own.

By Dan Janison

dan.janison@newsday.comDanJanison

Dan Janison is a member of the Newsday editorial board.