NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban could step down from his position in the coming days after revelations his electronic devices were seized and home searched by federal authorities, sources say, though Mayor Eric Adams told reporters the commissioner was continuing to do his job and Caban has reportedly told police officials he isn’t going anywhere.
“There was nothing that came from me that fed those rumors at all,” Adams said at an unrelated event earlier Monday. “We have a job to do, to continue to keep the city safe, we’ve done an amazing job in doing that.”
But, according to two sources familiar with the matter, the resignation could be imminent and NYPD brass were expected to meet at some point soon to discuss the potential resignation.
The high-stakes meeting comes in the aftermath of last week’s seizures of Caban’s electronics and search of his home by federal investigators as part of a corruption probe that sources say is in part focused on whether his twin brother, James Caban, “sold” police protection to nightclub venues in the city.
The feds have not levels any accusations of wrongdoing.
Commissioner Caban spent this past weekend out of the city with family, according to the sources familiar with the matter. He returned to New York Monday and was at work at 1 Police Plaza, where he has told other NYPD officials he is not resigning, according to a third source.
No one has been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the probe, which also resulted in feds seizing phones and searching the homes of James Caban, several NYPD officials and a number of other top aides to Mayor Adams, including Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, senior public safety adviser Tim Pearson, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Schools Chancellor David Banks.
Adams addressed Commissioner Caban’s possible resignation at an unrelated press conference on Monday — shortly before testing positive for Covid — saying he doesn’t think “anything in life is guaranteed.”
“Rumors are always out there,” Adams said. “… You can never keep up with the rumors that you hear. There was nothing that came from me that fed those rumors at all.”
Many called for Caban to step down after the raids — including Council members Robert Holden, Lincoln Restler and Tiffany Caban.
Questions have also arisen about how the unfolding investigation will affect the mayor’s effectiveness.
When asked more broadly about the raids that have hit several other members of his inner circle and top NYPD officials, Adams said Monday: “There’s no joy in waking up and seeing any negative comments made about you in writing or anywhere, so there’s no joy. But we have a job to do.”
