Power, Pay, and Accusations Rock Nation’s Largest Police Department
In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through New York’s law enforcement community, the New York Police Department’s highest-ranking uniformed officer has stepped down amid explosive allegations of sexual coercion tied to overtime compensation.
NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey resigned on Friday night.
The allegations
At the center of the controversy is a complaint filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by Lieutenant Quathisha Epps, who claims her superior engaged in “quid pro quo sexual harassment” by forcing her to “perform unwanted sexual favors in exchange for overtime opportunities in the workplace.”
The case has drawn particular attention due to Epps’s notable financial earnings. According to the New York Post, she emerged as the NYPD’s highest-paid employee in fiscal year 2024, with a total compensation exceeding $400,000—more than half of which came from overtime payments.
Dueling narratives
Eric Sanders, Epps’s legal representative, maintains that all overtime hours were legitimately authorized. “Ms. Epps has endured profound harm at the hands of individuals who exploited their positions of power for personal gain,” Sanders said. “The retaliation she faced for standing up to this abuse underscores the need for immediate reforms to address systemic failures within the NYPD.”
However, the situation has grown more complex as Epps now faces her own internal affairs investigation and has been suspended without pay over overtime irregularities.
Official response
The NYPD has issued a measured statement, saying it “takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and will thoroughly investigate,” while declining further comment. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has characterized the allegations as “extremely concerning and alarming,” according to The New York Post.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams described the allegations against Maddrey as “extremely concerning and alarming,” The New York Post reported. Maddrey’s attorney, Lambros Lambrou, dismissed Epps’ claims as “completely meritless.”
Contested claims
Critics of the allegations, including some within the department, suggest the timing is suspicious. “What a convenient time to accuse somebody of misconduct after she’s caught stealing time,” Lambrou told The New York Post. “She’s obviously drowning and in the deep end of the pool without a lifesaver. She wants to take down as many people as she can.”
The case continues to unfold, raising serious questions about oversight, accountability, and the use of power within one of the nation’s most prominent police departments.