After New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned, Mayor Adams quickly selected an acting commissioner candidate. On September 18, the newly appointed acting commissioner Thomas Donlon made his first public appearance. Donlon’s status as an “outsider” garnered attention, with analysts suggesting that Adams chose him to rebuild the prestige of the police department; however, this former FBI official will also have to face a group of formidable deputy commissioners.
Donlon is a former bureau official and counterterrorism expert, but he lacks experience working in the New York Police Department. In a statement upon taking office, he said, “My goal is clear: to continue reducing crime and making historic progress in eliminating illegal guns from our communities, upholding the highest standards of integrity and transparency, and supporting the dedicated officers who risk their lives every day to keep us safe.”
During a press conference on September 17, Mayor Adams explained that when choosing the acting police commissioner, he was provided with a long list of candidates, but when he saw Donlon’s name, it reminded him of their interactions during Donlon’s tenure as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee in the state legislature, leading Adams to immediately consider Donlon as the suitable choice for temporary police commissioner.
Adams stated, “I had a pleasant conversation with Tom, understanding his entire history and his willingness to step in as acting police commissioner.” As the conversation shifted towards preserving the reputation of the police department, Adams listed a series of achievements, saying, “I don’t believe that the people of New York City currently distrust the police department.”
Observers believe that Adams chose Donlon over promoting any deputy commissioner within the department as a way to rebuild the department’s reputation in the eyes of the public.
Some analysts told Gothamist that if the federal investigation into the top echelons of the police department proves true, it would mean a “shocking betrayal of public trust.” They question why such behavior wasn’t discovered earlier within the department, revealing internal issues. Therefore, they argue that “any outsider could potentially bring an advantage” at this time, making the choice of Donlon a “strategic move.”
Analysts suggest that Donlon won’t make significant changes in the near future, as he will have to contend with a group of outspoken and assertive deputy commissioners left behind by Caban.