NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey is making a last-ditch effort to have his abuse of authority case dismissed, according to sources familiar with the matter. Maddrey was scheduled to face an internal trial on Monday over allegations that he wrongfully intervened in the arrest of a former police officer accused of brandishing a gun at three children in Brooklyn.
Maddrey’s attorney, Lambros Lambrou, filed a motion on Wednesday arguing that the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), the NYPD’s internal watchdog, lacks the authority to prosecute the case. Lambrou had previously requested a meeting with CCRB investigators and the department advocate to negotiate a resolution. However, he rejected the proposed penalty of docking Maddrey 10 vacation days, asserting that his client had done nothing wrong and would seek to have the charges dismissed.
In the motion addressed to Deputy Commissioner Rosemarie Maldonado, Lambrou contended that the case fell beyond the scope of the CCRB’s power to prosecute. He highlighted the absence of any previous CCRB prosecution involving a supervisor’s decision on an internal NYPD matter that did not involve subsequent interaction with the public. Lambrou challenged the CCRB to provide examples of such cases.
The abuse of authority charges stem from a 2021 incident involving former officer Krythoff Forrester, who allegedly pulled a gun on three children aged 12, 13, and 14 after they accidentally damaged a camera outside Forrester’s family realty office in Brownsville. Forrester denies ever brandishing a weapon at the children. Maddrey, who held the position of chief of community affairs at the time, purportedly arrived at the precinct late on November 25, 2021, and instructed the sergeant to void Forrester’s arrest. He also allegedly suggested that the children should be handcuffed instead.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office reviewed the incident and determined that Maddrey’s actions were not criminal. Subsequently, the CCRB took up the case and recommended an official reprimand for Maddrey for abuse of authority in April of this year. Then-NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell concurred with the CCRB investigators a month later, imposing a 10-day suspension on Maddrey. The chief opted to challenge the disciplinary action in the NYPD internal trial room.
Lambrou argued in the motion that Maddrey conducted his own investigation into the arrest and overrode the previous decision, voiding the arrest as an internal NYPD matter. Lambrou emphasized that Maddrey did not interact with any members of the public and did not cause harm to anyone. Consequently, he contended that involving the CCRB in reviewing Maddrey’s actions would exceed the board’s powers as defined by the New York City Charter.
2 Responses
This is an important story that needs to be shared widely. I will definitely be sharing this post on my social media accounts to help spread the word. It’s crucial that cases of abuse of authority are brought to light and justice is served. Thank you for bringing attention to this issue!
Chief Maddrey’s attempt to have his abuse of authority case dismissed is like a desperate Hail Mary pass thrown by a quarterback in the final seconds of a football game. He knows the odds are stacked against him, but he’s hoping for a miraculous outcome that would save him from the consequences of his actions.