Former top NYPD lawyer is latest to file corruption suit against department, Adams

A former top NYPD lawyer filed a lawsuit against the department and Mayor Eric Adams this week, accusing them of firing her after she investigated the highest-ranking uniformed officer and recommended disciplinary action against him.

The plaintiff, Amy Litwin, claims in the complaint that she was terminated from her position after issuing a detailed report in May 2023 about former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey. Litwin completed a review at the request of the Civilian Complaint Review Board following accusations that Maddrey used his position to void the arrest of a retired officer after that officer allegedly menaced teenagers with his gun drawn.

“Ms. Litwin – who was in charge of recommending discipline at the NYPD – had her career ripped away from her simply for doing her job. Time after time, she resisted intense pressure from Mayor Adams’ inner circle to ‘cheapen’ or ignore penalties for Adams’ clique,” her attorney Sarena Townsend said in a statement.

“And when Ms. Litwin dared to try to hold Adams’ Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey responsible for his criminal activity and reported that activity to the NYPD commissioner, that was the last straw – she was terminated,” Townsend added.

In a statement, City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus said Mayor Adams never directed the former police commissioner to terminate Litwin.

"As with any administration, agency leaders — including those at the NYPD — have every right to hire, promote, and dismiss employees for critical roles. We will respond further in court," she said. The NYPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Maddrey later resigned following an unrelated accusation by a subordinate that he demanded sexual favors in exchange for approving overtime wages. He has denied that accusation.

Litwin's lawsuit is the latest in a string of corruption allegations brought in civil lawsuits by former top executives in the department. Most notably, former Police Commissioner Tom Donlon, claimed in a civil lawsuit last month that Adams and other NYPD officials ran the department as a “criminal enterprise.” Adams has said Donlon’s suit is baseless.

Litwin’s suit states that Keechant Sewell, who served as police commissioner at the time, agreed with Litwin’s conclusions in the report that Maddrey abused his authority and should face discipline. Sewell resigned weeks after the report was issued and Adams replaced her with Edward Caban, the suit states.

In August 2023, Caban summoned Litwin to his executive office and fired her, the suit states, adding that Maddrey was also in the conference room at the time.

“The decision to fire Litwin was made with the express and/or implied authority and consent of Mayor Adams,” the suit states.

The suit also names Caban and Maddrey as defendants. Lawyers for Caban and Maddrey did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This story has been updated wit a comment from a City Hall spokesperson.