Legal authorities are actively investigating Jeffrey Maddrey, a former high-ranking official from the New York Police Department, who stepped down amidst accusations of sexual abuse. The inquiry into Maddrey deepened after investigators discovered potential misconduct in relation to overtime hours in his department. Maddrey’s residence was put under scrutiny by federal officers in January, underscoring the gravity of the accusations. Holding a substantial degree of power and influence in the department, Maddrey served as the third highest-ranking officer.
Disturbing revelations highlight that Maddrey allegedly ordered the removal of tracking devices attached to official department vehicles during his tenure. These devices, known as Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) units, serve crucial functions: they ensure officers’ safety by monitoring their locations, and they confirm officers’ time and movements to maintain accountability. Two anonymous sources, talking under the conditions of privacy due to the ongoing confidential investigation, provided this information.
Wielding his elevated rank, Maddrey reportedly demanded the removal of AVL units on the vehicles during his two-year service as the department’s chief, adding a new dimension to the already complex investigation. The exact number of vehicles concerned by this action remains unknown. Maddrey’s responsibilities in the department were broad and critical, including spearheading operational planning and creating strategies to combat crime.
His tenure, kicking off in December 2022, saw a significant surge in overtime, mainly among officers working directly under him and other high-ranking officials closely associated with Mayor Eric Adams. Strikingly, Maddrey was once considered a strong supporter of Mayor Adams.
Troubling stories emerged in December that led to Maddrey’s resignation. He was accused of compelling a female lieutenant in his office into a sexual relationship in exchange for additional overtime assignments. This scandal rattled the department, with accusations trailing Maddrey even after his departure.
On a legal front, four former chiefs lodged lawsuits against Maddrey and other officials, including Mayor Adams. They alleged that a damaging culture of favoritism and corruption pervaded the department, and those who opposed this system were subjected to degradation and retaliation.
The encompassing investigation into overtime misuse and misconduct subsequently uncovered Maddrey’s alleged actions of disposing of AVL tracking devices. Federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York have conducted interrogations and sent summons to multiple individuals ranging from detectives and other officers to top-ranking officials in the department.
Federal authorities also started issuing subpoenas to several officers last month. Lambros Lambrou, Maddrey’s lawyer, refuted the accusations by arguing that his client, along with other high-ranking individuals, had access to ‘special ordered cars’, sans AVLs. Maddrey’s concerns about personal security and confidentiality of his location were cited as reasons for this.
Further, these specialized vehicles, assigned to detectives driving Maddrey, may have been modified to either disable the AVL or completely remove it. Maddrey was often a public figure due to his high-rank of three stars, intensified by regular media coverage, asserted Lambrou. Hence, it was vital to secure his movements, dovetailing with standard practices at his rank.
However, responses from the relevant parties were limited. The department remained silent on the allegations regarding misuse of AVL devices during Maddrey’s tenure. Spokespersons for both the department and the Southern District also opted not to comment.
With Maddrey’s departure, the Police Department has since tightened the loop on potential misuse of department vehicles. In mid-January, Commissioner Jessica Tisch issued a memorandum mandating the installation of AVL units in all unmarked department vehicles by the end of June.
The memo extended the scope of monitoring by ordering the information technology bureau within the department to submit monthly reports. These reports should highlight vehicles lacking AVL devices and those failing to transmit data over the preceding month.
Jillian Snider, a retired police officer and faculty at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, emphasized the importance of AVLs, citing their introduction into precinct vehicles around 2017. Officer safety was the primary concern driving this initiative. Department leaders saw AVLs as an auxiliary tool to locate officers responding to large-scale emergencies or dangerous situations.
Snider pointedly questioned Maddrey’s justifications for AVL removal, stating they conflicted with the very need for security. According to Snider, those citing security reasons should ideally want their AVL device active all the more. Should anything render them uncontactable, AVL units would provide a backup to locate them.
The investigation has broadened to encompass eight individuals who were serving under Maddrey while he was the department’s chief. Federal inquiries are focusing on substantial overtime earnings, text messages, and possible financial transactions involving Maddrey, his relatives, and current and ex-members of the department.
In December, accusations by Quathisha Epps, an ex-lieutenant under Maddrey, sparked controversy. She alleged being forced into a sexual relationship with Maddrey in return for overtime assignments. While Maddrey refuted the allegations stating it was a brief consensual relationship, Epps reported multiple instances of undesirable sexual encounters, some taking place at his office at police headquarters. Further investigations into correspondences involving Epps and Maddrey are ongoing, marking significant progress in this complex case.