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Judge tosses former interim NYPD commissioner's federal lawsuit against ex-department brass
By
Ben Feuerherd
Published Feb 19, 2026
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Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
By
Ben Feuerherd
Published Feb 19, 2026
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A federal judge this week dismissed a lawsuit by former interim NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon, who alleged former top NYPD officials and executives in Mayor Eric Adams' administration ran the city government like a criminal enterprise.
Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York ordered all of Donlon’s claims dismissed in an opinion handed down Wednesday evening.
“We are pleased the court agreed there was no legal basis for this case to continue," a spokesperson for the city Law Department said in a statement Thursday.
Donlon’s attorney, John Scola, said in a court filing that Donlon intends to appeal the decision.
“Mr. Donlon’s claims are detailed, evidence-based and consistent with facts that have continued to emerge from ongoing federal investigations,” Scola said in a statement. He added that he believes an appeals court will overturn Cote’s decision.
In her opinion, Cote took issue with Donlon’s claim that top NYPD officials created a criminal enterprise by acting with a common motive to violate the law and punish the former interim commissioner.
The judge said the suit alleges a variety of motives by separate defendants and therefore does not constitute an enterprise.
Donlon briefly led the department in 2024 after former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban resigned amid a federal investigation.
Donlon’s lawsuit is one of several complaints filed by former NYPD officials who alleged corruption in the department and city government during the Adams administration.
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new york city
nypd
public safety
Ben Feuerherd
Ben Feuerherd covers public safety and policing for WNYC and Gothamist. He previously covered federal courts for The New York Post and The Messenger. His work has also appeared in POLITICO, the Daily Beast and NBC New York. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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