A series of explosive lawsuits filed Monday by four former senior NYPD officials accuse New York City Mayor Eric Adams and top police brass of orchestrating a web of cronyism, retaliation, and pay-to-play promotions within the country’s largest police force.
Among the plaintiffs is James Essig, once the NYPD’s chief of detectives, who, along with the others, claims to have faced demotion or forced retirement after speaking out against what they describe as an entrenched system of corruption. The alleged scheme, they say, included the sale of top police promotions, sometimes for as much as $15,000, with the mayor’s tacit endorsement.
A spokesperson for Mayor Adams, who is seeking reelection, stated that the administration will review the complaints and maintained that NYPD leadership is held to the “highest standards.”…