NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban steps down
NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban resigned following the FBI’s recent seizure of his phone. He assumed the role just over a year ago after his predecessor Keechant Sewell resigned. Both were appointed by Mayor Eric Adams and initially celebrated as landmark hires.
Edward Caban broke a barrier as the NYPD’s first Latino police commissioner last year. But now the precinct house is on fire—following the recent FBI raid and seizure of his phone, he stepped down today.
Caban grew up in the Bronx and is of Puerto Rican heritage, moving up the department ranks since joining patrol in 1991. Sewell, who previously served in Nassau County, was the first Black woman to serve in the role. She now works for another dysfunctional New York City institution, the Mets.
Earlier this month, Caban and his twin brother James were raided by the FBI for a federal corruption investigation.
An NYPD spokesperson pointed to Mayor Eric Adams’ press conference for comment.
“A short time ago, I accepted the resignation of the NYPD commissioner Edward Caban,” said Adams. “He concluded this is the best decision at this time.”
Beyond the investigation, Caban was characterized by his refusal to discipline officers accused of substantiated misconduct following the recommendations by the Civilian Complaint Review Board, as the NYPD Commissioner has final say. Just yesterday, ProPublica reported the department killed more than 400 cases this year under him.
In his statement, assemblymember and prospective mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said a new police commissioner under Adams won’t fix rising illegal stops, ballooning overtime budget and harassment of journalists by outspoken police chiefs.
“Eric Adams has stacked the leadership of the world’s largest police force with bullies and crooks,” said Mamdani. “Another NYPD commissioner won’t fix this—only a new Mayor can.”
Tania Kinsella, who became the first Black woman to serve as First Deputy Police Commissioner after she replaced Caban following his appointment, will not assume his role for a second time. Instead, Tom Donlan will serve as interim police commissioner, a former director of the New York Office of Homeland Security.
Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.
The post NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban steps down appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.