Department Director Jeffrey Maddrey abruptly resigned after being accused of asking subordinates for sex in exchange for huge overtime hours.
In an exclusive interview with The Post , Lieutenant Quathisha Epps, 51, claimed that Jeffrey Maddrey, the highest-ranking officer in the New York Police Department (NYPD), regularly took advantage of her, demanding sex at headquarters.
Ms. Epps detailed sexual acts forced upon her by her superiors in exchange for becoming the highest-paid NYPD employee in fiscal year 2024, thanks to 1,627 hours of overtime.
According to publicly available payroll data, Ms. Epps earned more than $164,000 last year, but after accounting for overtime, she earned more than $400,000 for administrative work in Mr. Maddrey’s office.
NYPD Chief Jessica Tisch accepted Maddrey’s resignation on the evening of December 20, effective immediately, a department spokeswoman said.
On December 21, Ms. Epps filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), accusing Mr. Maddrey of “forced unwanted sexual advances in exchange for overtime opportunities,” which began last year and continued through December 16.
Ms. Epps, who worked for Mr. Maddrey for many years, was given a “relaxed” overtime policy by her superiors two years ago, when Mr. Maddrey was chief of patrol and heard her share that she was about to lose her home to foreclosure.
Mr Maddrey only began demanding sex in June 2023 after taking up the post of Director of the Service, responsible for managing the entire day-to-day operations of the 36,000-officer force.
Mr Maddrey, who is married, is said to have first made the request at his 13th-floor office at One Police Plaza. Ms Epps claims the pair had sex about 10 times afterwards.
Lieutenant Quathisha Epps at her home in upstate New York. Photo: LP Media
According to the complaint, Ms. Epps alleges that her superiors took advantage of her financial and emotional vulnerabilities by repeatedly sexually humiliating her in the police headquarters office. When not asked, Mr. Maddrey allegedly forced her to do odd things involving other female officers.
Ms Epps said she wanted to get away from Mr Maddrey but was afraid no one would believe her. “I thought he was a predator,” she said. “He said, ‘We’re going to save your house,’ like he was rescuing me. But he really just wanted to do it.”
After rejecting her superiors’ advances in October, Ms. Epps said Mr. Maddrey retaliated by fabricating a “Monthly Overtime Report,” which led to a criminal and internal investigation against her.
The complaint also says that the last time Ms. Epps was abused was on December 16, when she approached Mr. Maddrey and said she wanted to retire after being exposed for working excessive overtime. Mr. Maddrey said he would speak to Jessica Tisch on her behalf, but demanded that she “give in” to him. Feeling she had no choice, she “complied under duress,” and filed for retirement shortly thereafter.
Mr. Maddrey denies Ms. Epps’ allegations.
His lawyer criticized Ms Epps as “about to drown so she tried to grab as many people as possible”.
Jeffrey Maddrey was appointed as the New York Police Department’s chief in November 2022. Photo: Nypost
Jeffrey Maddrey joined the NYPD in 1991 and rose rapidly through the ranks, but was also embroiled in multiple lawsuits and disciplinary investigations, including allegations of sexual abuse and harassment by at least three subordinates.
In 2016, former police officer Tabitha Foster, 49, filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Maddrey had assaulted her, physically abused her, and emotionally abused her. A judge dismissed the lawsuit, and Maddrey was disciplined internally.
“Systemic failures within the NYPD allowed Mr. Maddrey’s predatory behavior to continue unchecked, culminating in his promotion to chief of the department by Mayor Eric Adams, despite a well-documented history of misconduct and abuse of power,” Ms. Epps’ attorney said.
Mayor Adams’ office said the NYPD is investigating the allegations and will conduct a department-wide personnel review to ensure no senior officer has used his power inappropriately.
NYPD Internal Affairs Director Miguel Iglesias was forced out on December 21 over his handling of the disturbing sexual abuse allegations against Maddrey and other issues that should have been investigated.
