New York City is currently experiencing a public trust crisis in the wake of the resignation of Edward Caban as Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) amid a federal probe into Mayor Eric Adams’ administration and an incident last weekend in which officers opened fire on a Brooklyn subway station, accidentally shooting a fellow officer and a bystander.
As the police force and mayoral administration scramble to regain credibility, NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon has been appointed to succeed Caban. The situation is particularly important for Adams, who has positioned himself as a tough-on-crime mayor with pro-law enforcement views. His political fortunes depend heavily on the ability of the NYPD to recover from the Caban corruption scandal.
However, since Caban’s resignation and Lisa Zornberg’s abrupt departure as chief legal adviser, several officials have called for Adams’ resignation as well. While Adams has taken steps to assure the public that he is still firmly in control, both the NYPD and the mayor’s office have suffered significant reputational damage.
The appointment of Tom Donlon as interim commissioner suggests that Mayor Adams aims to emphasize integrity and law enforcement credibility during this transitional phase. However, according to Michael Alcazar, an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a retired NYPD detective, the choice of Donlon is likely a stopgap measure amidst political turbulence as Donlon reviews and reorganizes the NYPD ranks, if necessary.
Alcazar also noted that this period is prelude to the selection of a subordinate close to the mayor, with both Donlon and Adams facing the daunting task of trying to persuade the public that the corruption and abuse that precipitated the current scandal will not reoccur. The department’s and the mayor’s reputations may be beyond repair, according to Robert Gangi, director of the Police Reform Organizing Project.
Gangi views the situation as similar to that under Mayor Rudy Giuliani in the 1990s, where policy was largely set by the mayor. He believes that any proposed changes to NYPD practices will require a green light from the mayor, who effectively controls the department.
