Adams and associate question former commissioner’s mental fitness amid lawsuit as Donlon claims unfair treatment.
In a recent private engagement with business leaders, Mayor Eric Adams disclosed that he requested a medical evaluation for former interim Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon, which Donlon allegedly refused. This refusal prompted Adams to terminate Donlon’s employment. The mayor’s comments come on the heels of a lawsuit filed by Donlon, which accuses the Adams administration and top NYPD officials of operating a corrupt organization that prioritizes loyalty over integrity, harming both the public and rank-and-file officers.
During the meeting with the Partnership for New York, Adams described his observations of Donlon’s behavior, suggesting that he noticed concerning changes, including forgetfulness. Previous to this, the mayor had labeled Donlon as a “disgruntled former employee” without mentioning any health issues. The current narrative on Donlon’s mental state appears to align with statements made by former NYPD spokesman Tarik Sheppard, who suggested that Donlon might be suffering from cognitive decline.
Donlon’s attorney, John Scola, quickly refuted the mayor’s claims, emphasizing that there is no formal record of any medical evaluation request and asserting that accusations regarding Donlon’s mental fitness are defamatory. Scola has indicated plans to file a defamation lawsuit against both Adams and Sheppard. He pointed out that if Donlon were indeed suffering from cognitive issues, it would be contradictory for the mayor to appoint him as a Senior Advisor shortly thereafter.
In his lawsuit, Donlon argues that under Adams’s leadership, the NYPD engaged in practices equivalent to those of a criminal enterprise, fostering an environment where loyalty to superiors outweighed service to the public. The fallout from this lawsuit adds to an already turbulent political atmosphere as Adams faces Democratic contender Zohran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo in an upcoming general election.
As the controversy continues to unfold, Adams has suggested that the timing and content of Donlon’s suit appear politically motivated, pointing to apparent errors within the legal documents as evidence of a rushed effort to discredit him. While responding to questions after a campaign rally, he declined to delve further into discussions regarding Donlon’s mental fitness, raising eyebrows about the administration’s handling of the situation. It is clear that the conflict between former Police Commissioner Donlon and Mayor Adams will be a focal point in both media coverage and public discussion as the electoral campaign progresses.
