NY Police Commissioner Complaints Start To Pile Up
Public records indicate that New York City’s new police commissioner has a disciplinary history that includes two substantiated cases of abuse of authority and a case of administrative discipline for misusing a department vehicle and E-Z Pass.
Edward Caban, a seasoned officer and the son of a transit police detective, recently became the city’s first-ever Latino police commissioner.
As the top law enforcement officer in New York, Caban will have the final say on the penalties imposed on officers found guilty of violating department regulations.
However, similar to some of his predecessors, Caban himself has faced disciplinary action within the NYPD.
In August 2012, Caban, then a well-regarded deputy inspector, was found guilty during an administrative trial for using his official vehicle for personal purposes, amounting to an apparent joyride. As a result, he received a penalty of 20 vacation days, equivalent to a month’s salary. The records state that he had used the department vehicle and E-Z Pass with unauthorized civilians present. Caban accepted the penalty and was subsequently promoted to full inspector.
Furthermore, Caban’s record includes two instances of substantiated abuse of authority as determined by investigators from the independent Civilian Complaints Review Board (CCRB).
One of these incidents occurred in August 2006 when Caban, then a captain in the 23rd Precinct in East Harlem, arrested a 60-year-old Black man who had refused to provide identification. The man claimed that Caban, while placing him under arrest, made derogatory comments, saying, “I am a f—ing Bronx Puerto Rican, and I don’t take any shit.” When questioned about the use of profanity, Caban allegedly responded with further offensive language. It is unclear what disciplinary actions, if any, were recommended by the CCRB investigators and whether the NYPD followed those recommendations.
The NYPD has not immediately responded to requests for comment.
Last year, when asked about Caban’s disciplinary history, the department told the New York Post that his more than thirty years of dedicated service to the city had prepared him well for his current role. The department claimed that the decades-old allegations, most of which were disproven or lacked merit, did not tarnish Caban’s exemplary reputation among fellow officers and the communities he served.
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