Former NYPD Commissioner Files $10M Defamation Claim Against Mayor Adams, Official

Former interim NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon has filed a $10 million notice of claim against New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, and former Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard, alleging they defamed him by questioning his mental fitness after he accused the Adams administration of corruption and racketeering within the police department. Donlon’s federal lawsuit claims systemic corruption, fraudulent promotions, and retaliation against whistleblowers under Adams’ leadership, further asserting that Sheppard threatened him and that Adams was complicit in departmental misconduct. In response, Adams and Sheppard publicly described Donlon as 'erratic,' 'forgetful,' and suffering from cognitive decline, which Donlon asserts was a coordinated effort to undermine his credibility as a whistleblower. Donlon maintains that the claims about his mental health, FBI phone seizures, and refusal of a psychological evaluation are false, noting he was appointed as a senior advisor for public safety after his removal as commissioner. The legal battle intensifies as Adams seeks re-election, with both sides accusing each other of misconduct and attempts to silence criticism. Donlon’s legal team argues that weaponizing mental health to discredit whistleblowers betrays public trust.