Adams announces new deputy mayor for public safety

NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday filled a top public safety position left vacant by the fallout of federal corruption probes rocking City Hall.

Adams named Chauncey Parker as the new deputy mayor for public safety, a position that was previously held by Philip Banks III. Last week, Banks was forced from his perch as part of a broader purge of top officials who either received subpoenas or had their phones seized by investigators.

In Banks’ stead, Parker will now command the powerful post, which directly oversees emergency and public safety agencies including the fire department and has input on NYPD operations and police forces embedded in other agencies.

“Chauncey is a lifelong public servant who has spent his career working at the city, state, and federal levels building bridges between law enforcement and communities across the state,” Adams said in a statement announcing the pick.

Parker previously served as a deputy commissioner in the NYPD before becoming an assistant deputy mayor under Banks. That assistant job will now be filled by Mona Suazo, another NYPD veteran, Adams announced.

The selection of Parker comes as Adams struggles to contain the chaos that multiple corruption probes into his administration have caused.

Federal, state and local investigators have issued subpoenas and seized the phones of top officials, which has led to around 10 high-ranking aides either resigning or being forced out of their jobs, though none have been accused of wrongdoing. Federal prosecutors indicted Adams himself on Sept. 26 for an alleged bribery scheme. He has pleaded not guilty.

Much of the house cleaning at City Hall has come at the behest of Gov. Kathy Hochul. To fill the resulting vacancies, the mayor has elevated deputies or assistants to become the new schools chancellor, corporation counsel and first deputy mayor.