Federal authorities search apartments of New York’s top police officer

NEW YORK — Federal authorities searched the homes of New York City’s newly appointed interim police chief and seized materials unrelated to his police work, he said.

The inexplicable and unexpected search came at a time when Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is rocked by other federal investigations.

Thomas Donlon, who became interim commissioner just a week ago after his predecessor resigned, issued a statement through the police department late Saturday.

“On Friday, September 20, federal authorities executed search warrants at my residences. They seized materials that came into my possession approximately 20 years ago and have nothing to do with my work with the New York Police Department,” the statement said.

“This is not a matter for the ministry and the ministry will not comment on it,” he added.

The statement did not specify what the investigation was about, which federal agencies were involved and what materials were seized.

Fabien Levy, the city’s deputy mayor for communications, said: “As we have said repeatedly, we expect all team members to fully comply with any law enforcement investigation.”

Just a week ago, the previous police chief, Edward Caban, resigned after federal authorities confiscated his electronic devices as part of an investigation that also involved his brother, a former police officer.

Federal agents have also seized phones belonging to the city’s public schools superintendent, a senior deputy mayor, Adams’ top public safety adviser and others in recent weeks. Investigators previously searched homes associated with Adams’ top campaign fundraiser and the Democratic Party’s director of Asian affairs.

Last fall, federal agents also seized Adams’ phone as he left an event.

No charges were filed in connection with any of these searches, and it was unclear whether there was any connection to the search involving Donlon, who until a few days ago was not part of the Adams administration.

An FBI spokesman declined to comment. An email seeking comment from a spokesman for the U.S. attorney in Manhattan was not immediately returned. A text message sent late Saturday night to Adams’ top spokesman was also not immediately returned.

Donlon spent decades with the FBI working on terrorism cases, including the investigation of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and an attack on a U.S. Navy destroyer in 2000.

About 20 years ago, he was a high-ranking FBI anti-terrorism officer in New York.

From 2009 to 2010, Donlon headed the New York State Department of Homeland Security before moving into the private security industry.

Adams appointed Donlon as his commissioner last week and he took office on September 13, a week ago Friday.