NEW YORK — The New York Police Department and FBI conducted searches at multiple locations across the city on Wednesday as part of a bribery investigation targeting current and former high-ranking NYPD officials, authorities said.
The joint operation by NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau investigators and federal authorities executed search warrants at homes including those of former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, former Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tariq Sheppard and current Assistant Chief James McCarthy, who heads Patrol Borough Manhattan South, according to law enforcement sources and officials.
The searches stem from an ongoing probe into alleged bribery involving promotions, assignments and other police matters linked to Maddrey, once the department’s top uniformed officer, people familiar with the investigation said. No arrests were immediately reported in connection with the searches.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the activity in a statement. "This morning, members of the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau and the FBI executed search warrants as part of a criminal investigation being pursued by the NYPD, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York," she said. "The investigation is ongoing and concerns conduct by former and current members of the NYPD."
The inquiry is separate from other recent federal corruption cases involving associates of former Mayor Eric Adams, sources said. It builds on earlier scrutiny of Maddrey, who has faced previous internal investigations.
McCarthy was placed on modified assignment and transferred following the searches, according to reports. Details on the specific allegations, including any potential bribes or benefits involved, were not publicly disclosed.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI declined to comment on the active investigation. NYPD officials emphasized their cooperation with federal partners.
As of Thursday, the searches continued to generate attention within the department, with internal notifications sent to personnel. Authorities have not released timelines for potential charges or further actions, stating only that the probe remains active. Additional details on the scope and any evidence obtained were not immediately available.
