(NEW YORK) — New York Metropolis Police Commissioner Edward Caban is stepping down, he and his attorneys confirmed.
Phrase of the resignation additionally got here in a letter from Caban’s legal professional to Metropolis Corridor. The resignation is efficient Friday.
His resignation comes amid a federal investigation into potential corruption in New York Metropolis authorities that final week noticed authorities seize cellphones belonging to Caban and different NYPD officers, in line with sources accustomed to the investigation.
Caban’s attorneys, Russell Capone and Rebekah Donaleski, mentioned in a press release that they’ve been knowledgeable that Caban is “not a goal of any investigation being carried out by the Southern District of New York” and that he “expects to cooperate totally with the federal government.”
Caban additionally mentioned he’ll “proceed to completely cooperate with the continued investigation.”
“My full focus have to be on the NYPD — the Division I profoundly honor and have devoted my profession to serving,” Caban mentioned in a press release. “Nevertheless, the noise round latest developments has made that not possible and has hindered the vital work our metropolis requires. I’ve subsequently determined it’s in the perfect curiosity of the Division that I resign as Commissioner.”
In an e-mail to the NYPD obtained by ABC Information, Caban didn’t handle the probe straight, solely saying he made the “tough determination to resign” amid “latest developments.”
“My full focus has at all times been on the NYPD — the division and other people I like and have devoted over 30 years of service to. Nevertheless, the information round latest developments has created a distraction for our division, and I’m unwilling to let my consideration be on something aside from our vital work, or the security of the women and men of the NYPD,” he mentioned within the e-mail. “I maintain immense respect and gratitude for the courageous officers who serve this division, and the NYPD deserves somebody who can solely give attention to defending and serving New York Metropolis, which is why — for the great of this metropolis and this division — I’ve made the tough determination to resign as Police Commissioner.”
New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams mentioned throughout remarks on Thursday that he accepted Caban’s resignation and has appointed former FBI agent and former New York Homeland Safety Director Tom Donlon as interim commissioner.
“I respect his determination and I want him effectively,” he mentioned of Caban. “Commissioner Caban devoted his life to creating our metropolis secure, and we noticed a drop in crime for the 13 of the 14 months that he served as commissioner.”
Federal brokers final week additionally searched the properties of Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Faculties Chancellor David Banks, in line with sources. The FBI seized proof, together with electronics, as a part of the searches, in line with sources. No costs have been filed.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have declined to reveal particulars about what they’re investigating, however sources mentioned one focus includes metropolis contracts and a second includes the enforcement of laws governing bars and golf equipment.
Adams, who held the press briefing nearly after testing optimistic for COVID-19 earlier this week, mentioned throughout his remarks Thursday that he was “stunned” to be taught of inquiries into his administration.
“I take them extraordinarily significantly,” he mentioned. “I’ve spent greater than 20 years in regulation enforcement, and so each member of my administration is aware of my expectations that we should comply with the regulation.”
The mayor’s chief counsel mentioned final week that investigators had not indicated to them that the mayor or his workers are targets of any investigation.
Adams additionally insisted final week that he was conscious of no “misdoings” by anybody in his administration and pledged cooperation with the continued investigation.
“I say time and again, as a former member of regulation enforcement, I’m very clear. We comply with the principles. We be sure that we cooperate and switch over any data that’s wanted and it simply actually can be inappropriate to get in the best way of the evaluate whereas it’s going down,” Adams mentioned in an interview with CBS New York on Sept. 5. “I’m not conscious of any misdoings and I’m going to, once more, comply with the principles and I’ll proceed to inform the group to do this. And that’s what they’ve been doing, to my information.”
A number of high-ranking NYPD officers, together with Caban, acquired subpoenas for his or her cellphones on Sept. 5, in line with sources. The next day, investigators sought the telephones of further police officers, together with precinct commanders in Manhattan, and interviewed police officers at a constructing subsequent to police headquarters, sources mentioned.
“The Division is conscious of an investigation by the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Southern District of New York involving members of service. The Division is totally cooperating within the investigation,” an NYPD spokesman mentioned on Sept. 5, referring further inquiries to the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace, which declined to remark.
Caban’s household has connections to nightlife. Richard Caban, the brother of Edward Caban and a former NYPD lieutenant, owned a now-shuttered Bronx restaurant, Con Sofrito. Edward Caban’s twin brother, James Caban, a former NYPD sergeant, owned a Bronx condo constructing that when had a bar on the primary ground named Twins.
Caban started his NYPD profession in 1991, as a police officer within the Bronx. He rose via the ranks, turning into the NYPD’s first deputy commissioner in 2022.
Adams appointed him as commissioner in July 2023 after Keechant Sewell, the town’s first feminine commissioner, stepped down.
Following information of the subpoena, Metropolis Councilman Robert Holden known as on Caban to step down.
“I do assume he has to do one thing as a result of it does forged a foul, deep shadow over the police division,” Holden mentioned on CBS’ “The Level with Marcia Kramer” on Sunday.
“We have now to have faith that he’s staying inside the regulation. He units an instance for the entire division,” Holden mentioned.
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