Former interim NYPD commissioner Donlon files $10M notice he’ll sue Mayor Adams for defamation

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Former NYPD Interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon filed a $10 cardinal announcement of intent to writer the metropolis Monday, alleging Mayor Adams and erstwhile NYPD spokesperson Tarik Sheppard slandered him erstwhile they claimed without providing grounds Donlon was removed from the station due to the fact that helium was “mentally not fit,” a transcript of the assertion shows.

Donlon, 71, filed a 251-page lawsuit successful national tribunal successful Manhattan Wednesday charging that Adams and apical loyalists successful the NYPD were running a “criminal enterprise.” The pursuing day, Sheppard, who Donlon had accused of promoting himself to three-star main and threatening to “kill” him astatine the 2024 NYC Marathon, said Donlon was suffered from “some cognitive issues.” Sheppard besides claimed the FBI seized Donlon’s phones astatine 1 point.

Adams the pursuing time claimed the erstwhile vocation FBI cause was “mentally not fit” and told a radical of concern leaders helium dismissed him for refusing a intelligence wellness evaluation.

“This wasn’t spin. It was a deliberate and defamatory onslaught — weaponizing intelligence wellness to soundlessness a whistleblower and deflect from the transgression misconduct Donlon exposed,” said Donlon’s lawyer John Scola.

“The facts talk for themselves: Donlon’s phones were ne'er seized. No intelligence wellness valuation was ever requested. And instantly aft removing him arsenic Commissioner, Adams appointed Donlon arsenic Senior Advisor for Public Safety—a relation that straight contradicts City Hall’s caller narrative.”

Litigants are required to record a announcement of assertion with the metropolis Comptroller’s bureau earlier filing a lawsuit. The assertion alleges Adams and Sheppard “knowingly made false, malicious and reputationally damaging nationalist statements.”

NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon and Mayor Eric Adams be a quality league astatine NYPD office successful October 2024.

Donlon was appointed interim constabulary commissioner Sept. 13 aft Edward Caban’s phones were seized and helium was forced to resign successful the midst of the then-mushrooming national probe into corruption successful the Adams administration.

Donlon presided arsenic constabulary commissioner for 2 months amid a play successful which helium claims successful the suit helium was perpetually undermined by Sheppard, past Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, the existent Chief of Department John Chell and existent Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry.

Adams selected erstwhile Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch arsenic constabulary commissioner Nov. 20 and gave Donlon a station astatine City Hall wherever helium worked connected obtaining instrumentality enforcement grants from national and authorities agencies.

“There is nary documentation, aesculapian oregon otherwise, suggesting Mr. Donlon was impaired oregon was asked to question treatment,” the announcement of assertion alleges. “No specified concerns were raised until aft helium filed suit against the Mayor and his interior circle.”

In precocious April, arsenic The News previously reported, Donlon was contacted by a City Hall quality resources authoritative and told his presumption was being eliminated. He departed metropolis authorities successful aboriginal May.

On Thursday, Donlon gave an hour-long interview to The News covering his tenure successful detail. “He’s conscionable grasping astatine straws, it’s pathetic,” Donlon said of Sheppard’s comments, “Of people he’s defaming me.

“Just astir each time I was constabulary commissioner, I was retired successful the community. Weekends. I ne'er took a time off,” helium added. “So, no, I wasn’t isolated. And no, the FBI ne'er took my phones.”

Reps for Adams and the NYPD did not instantly reply to requests for comment.

Originally Published: July 21, 2025 astatine 10:59 AM EDT

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