Edward Caban

Edward Caban
Caban in 2024
45th New York City Police Commissioner
In office
Acting: July 1, 2023 – July 17, 2023
July 17, 2023 – September 13, 2024
Appointed byEric Adams
Preceded byKeechant Sewell
Succeeded byTom Donlon
First Deputy New York City Police Commissioner
In office
January 4, 2022 – July 17, 2023
CommissionerKeechant Sewell
Preceded byBenjamin Tucker
Succeeded byTania Kinsella
Personal details
Born
Edward A. Caban

(1967-09-08) September 8, 1967 (age 57)
The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Alma materSt. John’s University (BS)

Edward A. Caban (born September 8, 1967) is an American police officer who served as the New York City Police Commissioner from 2023 to 2024, having been appointed by Mayor Eric Adams, and resigning amidst federal corruption investigations into the Eric Adams administration.[1][2] He was the first Latino to serve as Commissioner of the NYPD.[3]

During his brief tenure as commissioner, Caban watered down the NYPD's misconduct rules for officers, reducing penalties for officers who commit various offenses. He also vetoed more disciplinary penalties in plea deals between the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board and police officers accused of misconduct than all New York City commissioners had in the previous 10 years combined.[4][5]

Caban previously served as First Deputy Police Commissioner under Keechant Sewell.[6][7]

Early life

[edit]

Caban was born and raised in the Bronx to a family of Puerto Rican descent. He graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1985,[8] and attended St. John’s University and graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He joined the NYPD in 1991[3] and rose through the ranks to Sergeant three years later.[9] He made his way up to Inspector and has worked in a variety of precincts, most recently as the adjutant in Brooklyn North patrol.[10] His father, Juan, was a New York City Transit Police Detective who also served as the President of the Transit Police Hispanic Society.[11] His twin, James Caban also served in the NYPD.[12]

Career

[edit]

During his 30 years at the NYPD, Caban was found by the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board to have engaged in misconduct twice. In one of the cases, he arrested a civilian for not providing identification and was ordered to complete more training. In the second case, he refused to provide names of officers to a civilian when she claimed they had mistreated her; as a result, an admonition was added to his personnel file.[13] In 2010, he was disciplined for "unauthorized personal use of a department vehicle" and for "transporting an unauthorized person in that vehicle." He was docked 20 vacation days and paid $428 in restitution.[14]

New York City Police Commissioner

[edit]

On June 12, 2023, it was announced that Caban would fill in as acting NYPD commissioner after Keechant Sewell departed.[15] On July 17, he was formally appointed as NYPD commissioner.[16]

Overseeing discipline for officers

[edit]

In his nine months in office, Caban eliminated more disciplinary penalties in plea deals between the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board and police officers accused of misconduct than all New York City commissioners had in the previous 10 years combined.[4]

In June 2024, ProPublica revealed that, during his first year in office, Caban had used his authority of retention to "retain," or prevent from going to trial, the disciplinary cases of 54 officers before the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, including exercising this authority in more than 30 cases where department lawyers and the officers involved had already agreed to disciplinary action.[17]

In September 2024, Caban reduced the suggested punishments for officer misconduct in the NYPD's disciplinary guidelines. In some of these cases, the suggested punishment went from the "loss of five vacation days or a five-day suspension to merely 'additional training.'"[18] The New York Civil Liberties Union claims that this reduction in suggested punishments for misconduct is "reinforcing the NYPD’s culture of impunity."[18]

That same month, Caban signed off on the proposed discipline for an NYPD officer Brendan Sullivan who had "engaged in sexual misconduct," "abused his authority," and was "untruthful with investigators." The officer had left a series of harassing messages on a civilian's phone in retaliation for that civilian reporting police to New York City's 311 compliant line. Caban approved of a small fine and the loss of 60 days of leave for the officer.[19]

Federal corruption investigation

[edit]
Main article: Criminal investigations into the Adams administration

In September 2024, the FBI raided Caban's home and seized his electronic devices in a federal corruption investigation.[20][21][22] Caban's twin brother James also had his phone seized.[23][21] The investigation into James Caban is focused on his involvement in the nightclub industry and potential monetary benefit he received from his brother's position at the NYPD.[20][23][24] James Caban was fired from the NYPD in 2001 after wrongfully detaining and threatening a suspect.[25][26][27]

After the raids, several area bars have claimed that Caban's twin brother told them he could resolve "problems with NYPD" over noise complaints if they paid him a $2,500 fee.[28][29]

New York City Council members Robert Holden, Lincoln Restler, and Tiffany Cabán, as well as the New York Post editorial board, called for Caban to step down as NYPD Commissioner.[30][31][32]

A week after the raids, Caban resigned, in the midst of the investigations into the Eric Adams administration, stating, "for the good of this city and this department—I have made the difficult decision to resign as Police Commissioner."[33][34] Caban's lawyer issued a statement that claimed, "he is not a target of the investigation according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan."[24] Former New York Homeland Security Director Tom Donlon was named as Caban's interim replacement.[35]

Personal life

[edit]

In September 2023, Caban, along with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, became a Prince Hall Freemason[36][37] as well as a 32nd Degree Member of the Scottish Rite.[38]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Mayor Adams expected to name Edward Caban as first Latino NYPD commissioner". ABC7 New York. 2023-07-17. Archived from the original on 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  2. ^ "Edward Caban to stay NYPD commissioner: sources". 2023-07-17. Archived from the original on 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  3. ^ a b Prater, Nia (2023-07-17). "Who Is Edward Caban, the New NYPD Commissioner?". Intelligencer. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  4. ^ a b Blau, Reuven (2024-09-13). "Caban Watered Down NYPD Misconduct Rules as Final Act". THE CITY - NYC News.
  5. ^ Gonen, Yoav (2024-10-15). "In Last Days as NYPD Commissioner, Caban Nixed Penalty Against Cop Who Body-Slammed Protestor". THE CITY - NYC News. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  6. ^ Celona, Larry; Lungariello, Mark (2021-12-31). "NYPD commissioner names 30-year veteran and Bronx native to deputy post". New York Post. Archived from the original on 2022-05-09. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  7. ^ "News 4 Latino: Edward Caban". NBC New York. Archived from the original on 2022-04-15. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  8. ^ "Edward Caban '85 Becomes First Latino Police Commissioner". Cardinal Hayes. 18 July 2023. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  9. ^ newsamericas (2023-07-18). "Caribbean Heritage Cops Are Mayor's Pick For NYPD Commissioner And Deputy". Positive Caribbean and Latin America News from NewsAmericasNow - The Black Immigrant Daily. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  10. ^ newsamericas (2023-07-18). "Caribbean Heritage Cops Are Mayor's Pick For NYPD Commissioner And Deputy". Positive Caribbean and Latin America News from NewsAmericasNow - The Black Immigrant Daily. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  11. ^ "First Hispanic Police Commissioner Has Deep Roots in the N.Y.P.D." nytimes.com. July 18, 2023.
  12. ^ "Good cop, bad cop: NYPD commissioner's twin brother was kicked off police force, jailed for being negligent landlord". City & State NY. 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  13. ^ Umansky, Eric (2024-06-27). "How the N.Y.P.D. Quietly Shuts Down Discipline Cases Against Officers". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-06-27.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Smith, Greg B. (2023-06-14). "Likely Interim NYPD Commissioner Was Accused of Abner Louima-Related Threat". THE CITY - NYC News. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  15. ^ Rubinstein, Dana; Meko, Hurubie; Cramer, Maria (July 1, 2023). "As Sewell Departs, Adams Names Ally as Interim N.Y.P.D. Commissioner". The New York Times. p. A17. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  16. ^ Cramer, Maria; Meko, Hurubie; Rashbaum, William K. (July 17, 2023). "Edward Caban Becomes First Latino Police Commissioner in New York". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  17. ^ Umansky, Eric (2024-06-27). "New Yorkers Were Choked, Beaten and Tased by NYPD Officers. The Commissioner Buried Their Cases". ProPublica. Archived from the original on 2024-06-27. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  18. ^ a b Blau, Reuven (2024-09-13). "Caban Watered Down NYPD Misconduct Rules as Final Act". THE CITY - NYC News. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  19. ^ Cramer, Maria (2024-10-02). "He Called 311 on the Police. They Called Back Making Dolphin Sounds". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-10-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ a b Anuta, Joe (2024-09-06). "FBI delivers reality check to 'no distractions' Eric Adams". Politico. Retrieved 2024-09-09.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ a b McCarthy, Craig; Celona, Larry; Troutman, Matt (2024-09-05). "Feds raid home of NYPD Commish Edward Caban, other close Eric Adams allies". Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  22. ^ Kramer, Marcia; Bauman, Ali (2024-09-06). "Turmoil inside NYPD after raids as federal probe may be more widespread, sources say - CBS New York". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  23. ^ a b Dienst, Jonathan; Russo, Melissa; Winter, Tom; Luck • •, Brad (2024-09-06). "IRS joins investigation into NYPD's nightclub enforcement practices, commissioner's phone seized". NBC New York. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  24. ^ a b Jacobs, Shayna (2024-09-12). "NYPD commissioner resigns amid federal corruption probe". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  25. ^ Maria Cramer, Chelsia Rose Marcius, William K. Rashbaum, Emma G. Fitzsimmons (2024-09-09). "City Hall Seeks New York Police Commissioner's Resignation". The New York Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "Police Commissioner Caban's twin James Caban being probed by feds has gotten NYPD protection: sources". New York Daily News. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  27. ^ Slattery, Denis (2013-10-15). "'Worst' landlord in Bronx James Caban had an early scandal as a cop". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  28. ^ Dienst, Jonathan; Russo, Melissa; Bognar • •, Steve (2024-09-12). "Brooklyn bar owner alleges he was victim of 'shakedown' amid growing federal criminal investigation into NYC city hall and NYPD". NBC New York. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  29. ^ "News 4 I-Team Exclusive: Brooklyn bar owner alleges 'shakedown' over NYPD enforcement". NBC New York. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  30. ^ Rozner, Lisa (2024-09-08). "City Councilman calls on NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban to resign in wake of federal raids - CBS New York". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  31. ^ "Local electeds call for NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban to resign amid fed probe". New York Daily News. 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  32. ^ Board, Post Editorial (2024-09-06). "FBI raids leave Adams no better choice: Tell Police Commissioner Edward Caban to resign". Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  33. ^ Reporter, Rachel Dobkin Weekend (2024-09-12). "NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban resigns amid federal probe". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  34. ^ Dienst, Jonathan; Winter, Tom; Santia, Marc; Russo • •, Melissa (2024-09-12). "Read NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban's full resignation statement to the department". NBC New York. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  35. ^ Katersky, Aaron; Deliso, Meredith (2024-09-12). "NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban resigns: 'My complete focus must be on the NYPD'". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  36. ^ Sep 25, Bahar OstadanPublished; 2023Share (2023-09-25). "Mayor Adams, NYPD Commissioner Caban became Freemasons over the weekend". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2023-10-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ "Secret revealed: Mayor Adams, Police Commissioner named Freemasons". 2023-09-26. Archived from the original on 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  38. ^ Hodapp, Christopher (2023-10-02). "Freemasons For Dummies: New York Mayor Eric Adams Made a Prince Hall Mason". Freemasons For Dummies. Archived from the original on 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
Police appointments
Preceded by New York City Police Commissioner
July 1, 2023–September 13, 2024 		Succeeded by
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