Interim NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon to step down weeks into the job

New York City’s interim police commissioner is on his way out just weeks after he stepped into the job, a mayoral spokesperson told Gothamist.

Mayor Eric Adams appointed Thomas Donlon as interim commissioner after his predecessor Edward Caban abruptly resigned from the post. Caban was one of several Adams administration officials who had had their phones seized by federal investigators amid multiple ongoing probes into the mayor’s campaign and city government.

But federal agents searched Donlon's homes just 10 days into his tenure. He said the search was related to his past work as an FBI agent and not part of a federal probe involving Caban .

From the start of his time as interim commissioner, Donlon inherited a host of issues plaguing the country’s largest police department.

Hours after news broke of Donlon’s anticipated departure, the NYPD head appeared alongside Adams at an evening press conference, where the mayor skirted around saying whether Donlon would leave soon.

“Anytime there’s personnel changes made, we’ll announce and let you know,” Adams said.

But the mayor confirmed the news during an interview on Thursday, saying it would help residents “regain full confidence in the city."

“Right now, we are going to finalize who is going to be the police commissioner,” he told NBC New York/Telemundo 47.

Fabien Levy, the deputy mayor of communications, said “the mayor is speaking with a number of candidates about filling the commissioner position."

Levy also refuted reporting in the New York Daily News stating that Donlon could resign as soon as Friday amid problems with his background check process.

Department of Investigation spokesperson Diane Struzzi said recent "reporting about the DOI's background investigation involving Thomas Donlon is not accurate."

Donlon’s departure is just the latest in an ongoing exodus from the Adams administration. Phil Banks, the deputy mayor for public safety, resigned on Monday. A recently departed aide from the Adams administration was also charged this week with tampering with evidence in the federal probe. Gov. Kathy Hochul is also reportedly privately encouraging Adams to oust officials who are being watched by the FBI from his administration.

The NYPD did not respond to requests for comment.

This story has been updated with new information.