Background: The Overtime and Sex-for-Bonus Allegations

At the heart of the scandal is Lieutenant Quathisha Epps, who was known as one of the NYPD’s highest overtime earners, reportedly making over $400,000 in extra pay in the last year alone. Epps became the center of an explosive investigation after she accused former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey of coercing her into sexual acts in exchange for lucrative overtime bonuses—a disturbing quid-pro-quo arrangement.

The allegations against Maddrey, who denied any wrongdoing and claimed the encounters were consensual, led to his resignation and triggered multiple investigations by federal authorities and the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau. The scandal has since widened, implicating other senior officers, including Deputy Chief Paul Saraceno.

Deputy Chief Paul Saraceno’s Role and Removal

Internal NYPD documents revealed that Saraceno approved more than 170 overtime slips submitted by Epps in November 2024. Many of these slips were backdated to earlier months, raising suspicions of intentional manipulation to inflate overtime payments. This approval happened despite ongoing inquiries into Epps’s unusually high overtime earnings, suggesting Saraceno either overlooked or was complicit in the irregularities.

Following these revelations, Saraceno was demoted and forced to retire under a state provision that allows NYPD members with 20 or more years of service to retire if facing dismissal. While he retains his pension, he will not receive a letter of good standing nor keep his department-issued firearm—significant blows to his professional reputation.

Broader Implications for the NYPD

This scandal has sent shockwaves through the NYPD and the wider community, raising serious concerns about corruption and ethical lapses within the department’s leadership. The case highlights several critical issues:

• Abuse of Power: The alleged sex-for-bonus scheme points to a disturbing misuse of authority by senior officers, exploiting subordinates for personal gain.
• Overtime Fraud: The backdating and mass approval of overtime slips suggest systemic problems in how overtime is managed and monitored.
• Accountability and Oversight: The involvement of high-ranking officials like Saraceno underscores the challenges in enforcing accountability at the top levels of the police force.

In response, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch has vowed to strengthen internal controls and restructure the Internal Affairs Bureau to better detect and prevent corruption. The department is under intense scrutiny as it works to restore public trust and ensure ethical conduct among its ranks.

Conclusion

The removal of Deputy Chief Paul Saraceno amid the overtime and sex-for-bonus allegations marks a pivotal moment for the NYPD. It exposes vulnerabilities in the department’s oversight mechanisms and underscores the urgent need for reform. As investigations continue, the NYPD faces the critical task of rebuilding integrity and transparency to serve and protect the public effectively.

This scandal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance against corruption and the necessity of strong leadership committed to ethical standards within law enforcement agencies.