NYPD commissioner abruptly resigns after power struggle with Mayor Adams, city bureaucrats: Sources

New York Police Department Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced Monday that she would resign effective at the end of June after 18 months on the job.

While Sewell's resignation letter declined to detail the reasons for her departure, multiple sources told Fox News Digital and the New York Post that the police commissioner had been battling Democratic Mayor Eric Adams and city bureaucrats from the beginning.

One anonymous source indicated to the Post that Sewell had finally reached her "breaking point" regarding the power struggle.

"I don't think it was one thing," the source stated.

In a memo to the department on Monday, Sewell wrote, "I have made the decision to step down from my position."

"While my time here will come to a close, I will never step away from my advocacy and support for the NYPD, and I will always be a champion for the people of New York City," she added.

While Adams, a former police captain, appointed Sewell, the mayor undermined Sewell's authority by allowing NYPD chiefs to bypass the commissioner and report to the deputy mayor of public safety, Philip Banks, or Adams' aide Tim Pearson.

Unlike past commissioners, Sewell could not select her own leadership team, since Adams had already implemented a transition crew and hired Edward Caban as the first deputy commissioner before Sewell took over.

"The NYPD created the mayor, the mayor took all his friends with him, and she was not among the chosen," a source told the Post. "It's hard for an outsider if you're not from that culture to fit in."

Banks previously served as chief of the NYPD in 2013 and 2014, while Pearson was a former cop. Sources told the Post that the two worked behind the scenes to influence the department's direction, undermining Sewell.

NYPD Chief of Training Juanita Holmes went around Sewell to remove the time limit on the Police Academy's 1.5-mile run for new recruits, sources stated. Sewell was against the dramatic easing of the fitness requirements, but Adams signed off on Holmes' proposed change.

Holmes also reportedly invited rapper Cardi B to a Girls Talk event at the Queen's Police Academy without Sewell's knowledge or approval.

Sources told the Post that the commissioner was "furious" that she was not consulted about the invitation.

Jillian Snider, a John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor and former NYPD officer, told Fox News Digital that Adams never let Sewell "hold the reins to this department."

Snider argued that the "straw that broke the camel's back" regarding Sewell's resignation was likely over her attempt to issue NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey a seven-day command discipline and strip him of 10 vacation days over alleged abuse of authority.

Maddrey was accused of overturning the gun arrest of a retired police officer in 2021. The watchdog group Civilian Complaint Review Board sustained the allegations and recommended disciplinary action.

Adams defended Maddrey and stated that he was "proud to have him as the chief of the department."

Snider told Fox News Digital, "There's been a lot of talks that Mayor Adams, and especially Deputy Mayor of Public Safety [Philip] Banks, were not at all happy that Police Commissioner Sewell was deciding to go along with the CCRB disciplinary recommendation."

NYPD spokesperson Julian Phillips declined to comment further on Sewell's resignation and referred to Adams' Tuesday press conference regarding the announcement, Fox News Digital reported.

Adams thanked Sewell for her "devotion" and "steadfast leadership."

"Her efforts played a leading role in this administration's tireless work to make New York City safer. When we came into office, crime was trending upwards, and thanks to the brave men and women of the NYPD, most of the major crime categories are now down," Adams stated. "The commissioner worked nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a year and a half, and we are all grateful for her service. New Yorkers owe her a debt of gratitude."

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