Challenges Faced by New York’s Interim Police Commissioner

Mayor Eric Adams’s decision to appoint Thomas Donlon, a seasoned 71-year-old former F.B.I. investigator, as New York’s interim police commissioner was initially seen as a stabilizing move for a department embroiled in multiple federal investigations. However, this sense of stability was short-lived.

On September 21, just one week after taking the helm, Mr. Donlon disclosed that he himself was under federal scrutiny. F.B.I. agents had arrived at his residence with a search warrant, demanding the return of files he had allegedly taken over two decades prior when he left the agency. This revelation prompted immediate speculation that Mr. Donlon might follow in the footsteps of other City Hall officials who had resigned amid ongoing crises.

In the weeks following his appointment, significant changes occurred within his leadership team. His acting chief of staff, Terri Tobin, along with other supervisors assigned to his office, stepped down about a month into their roles for reasons that remain unclear, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

On November 3, the commissioner found himself at the center of a public altercation during the New York City Marathon with his acting chief of staff, Tarik Sheppard. Witnesses reported that their argument escalated to such a degree during a photo opportunity that they had to be physically separated. This incident raised eyebrows and forced Mayor Adams to field questions regarding the apparent infighting within his administration.

Despite these tumultuous events, Mr. Donlon has managed to retain his position and has communicated to friends and colleagues within the department that he intends to stay on. “He has no intention of leaving,” stated Mark Carroll, a close friend and retired federal prosecutor who has known Donlon for 44 years. “He genuinely enjoys the job and the work. He has a passion for helping people and serving the public, which has defined his entire career.”