NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey resigns amid bombshell sex abuse claims

NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey resigned abruptly Friday night amid bombshell allegations from a female NYPD lieutenant who accused him of predatory sexual harassment, the Daily News has learned.

Quathisha Epps recently retained attorney Eric Sanders, a former cop who specializes in representing police officers in claims against the city. In allegations that surfaced Saturday, Epps claims that Maddrey repeatedly demanded sex from her and then approved massive amounts of overtime.

Epps filed for retirement on Monday after The News reported she earned more than $400,000 in fiscal 2024, including $204,000 in overtime for 1,626 hours in the year. She was then suspended on Wednesday, though police sources said the suspension wasn’t transmitted throughout the department as is normal.

The NYPD confirmed Maddrey’s departure Saturday.

“Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch accepted the resignation of Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey Friday night, effective immediately,” an NYPD spokesman said. “The NYPD takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and will thoroughly investigate this matter.”

NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell has ben named interim chief of department in Maddrey’s absence. Chief Philip Rivera will assume the role as interim chief of patrol, NYPD officials said.

Epps’ salary made her the highest earning cop in the NYPD. Critics inside and outside the NYPD have questioned how she could have worked that much overtime, especially since Epps’ role for Maddrey was administrative in nature.

But word that Epps is now going to sue Maddrey adds a new element to the case, indicating that the overtime was tied to a coercive environment that Maddrey created.

Police sources said the review is broader than Epps’ earnings alone. It may include other misconduct within Maddrey’s office.

Maddrey has been under scrutiny in the past, including for a confrontation with a police officer named Tabatha Foster who he was involved with and acting to squash the arrest of a friend of his who threatened three teens with a gun.

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Sanders represented Foster in an initial lawsuit against Maddrey before she retained another lawyer.

Community activist Dana Rachlin sued Maddrey and other top brass claiming they orchestrated a campaign to ruin her career for her criticism of police tactics in Brooklyn. And an NYPD chief sued Maddrey last summer alleging Maddrey orchestrated a campaign to sideline his career after he defended a female sergeant against sexual harassment by former senior mayoral adviser Timothy Pearson.

Despite those controversies and others, Maddrey has been able to remain a favored son within the top echelons of the NYPD, and has been defended by Mayor Adams and former Police Commissioner Edward Caban.

He recently became a lawyer, signaling that he was close to retirement after a 33-year career.