Former NYC Police Commissioner Edward Caban’s twin brother allegedly impersonated him at precinct stationhouses in a brazen scheme to scuttle cops from probing “illegal activity” at golf equipment that had been paying a safety price, in line with a grievance filed by a whistleblower NYPD lieutenant.
James Caban confirmed up on the thirty fourth Precinct in Washington Heights at the very least 5 instances and “falsely” led cops to consider he was his brother “to influence precinct enforcement activities related to lounges and other forms of nightlife entertainment,” in line with the bombshell grievance, filed Thursday with the federal Equal Employment Alternative Fee.
The Cabans are 58-year-old twins from the Bronx. James Caban, a former police officer, was fired from the division twenty years in the past after a combat with a taxi driver.
Mayor Adams appointed Edward Caban to commissioner in 2023 however he resigned in September 2024 after his telephone was confiscated amid a federal probe involving membership enforcement.
Precinct commander Aneudy Castillo and his subordinates “facilitated this deception, allowing officers to believe that orders were coming from the police commissioner himself,” in line with the grievance.
“The CO would always say ‘Caban is coming,’” former thirty fourth Precinct Integrity Management Officer Lt. Emelio Rodrigues, who filed the grievance, instructed The Put up. “We just thought it was the commissioner. I saluted him. Other cops also saluted him.”
Caban wore enterprise informal garments as his commissioner brother did. He didn’t salute again however he additionally by no means stated he wasn’t the highest cop, Rodrigues stated.
Whereas on the precinct, James Caban met with Inspector Castillo and his Particular Operations Lt. Michael Disanto. The conferences happened between January 2023 and September 2024, in line with the grievance.
Rodrigues instructed The Put up he noticed James Caban on the precinct “over five times” and after the visits, Castillo and DiSanto would allegedly inform their cops to not examine 311 complaints at sure companies.
“Despite numerous reports of crime, noise complaints and parking violations, Castillo and Disanto instructed officers to immediately close out 311 jobs without responding,” in line with the grievance filed Thursday.
“Any attempt to take legitimate enforcement action was met with swift interference, with Castillo and his associates making it clear that certain businesses were off limits to police oversight,” in line with the grievance.
When cops tried to take motion, Commander Castillo “personally intervened … even calling supervisors from home to ensure reports were not adequately documented,” in line with the grievance.
The Division of Justice has been conducting an ongoing corruption probe into affect peddling on the golf equipment, regulation enforcement sources stated. The probe prolonged to prime NYPD brass. Unrelated expenses towards Adams had been dropped by the feds final week.
Castillo did what the commissioner’s brother needed to make sure he and DiSanto would each be promoted., in line with the grievance.
Castillo secured loyalty from DiSanto and his driver, Police Officer Vincent Bracco, by paying them 40 hours of time beyond regulation a month “despite questionable assignments” whereas misusing time beyond regulation codes meant for anti-Israel protests, in line with the grievance.
“Castillo and Disanto referred to themselves as ‘the Mafia’ stating that if one of them had a problem with (Rodrigues) they all had a problem with him,” in line with the grievance.
In September 2023, Castillo eliminated Rodrigues from his integrity Management Officer (ICO) spot.
Disanto was ultimately promoted to lieutenant particular project, which might have include a increase. Castillo was not promoted to chief.
Due to his complaints, Rodrigues claims he was retaliated towards and had his time beyond regulation reduce, was placed on the in a single day shift, despatched to psychological testing and ultimately transferred to a rock-bottom project in felony court docket.
Rodrigues, 51, who immigrated to New York from Jamaica when he was 10, stated he joined the division in 2002 as a result of he needed to make a distinction.
He had his protect and gun taken away in the course of the ordeal.
His EEOC grievance cites discrimination by race and nationwide origin and retaliation.
“They destroyed my career,” stated the Newburgh resident, who lives together with his spouse and has a 10-year-old daughter and two grownup kids. “All of a sudden I’m a crazy person who wants to kill myself.”
The grievance is a precursor to a lawsuit, his lawyer Eric Sanders stated.
“Lieutenant Rodrigues stood for integrity and the NYPD tried to destroy his career for it,” Sanders stated. “This case isn’t just about one officer – it’s about exposing a culture where corruption thrives and those who speak out are punished.”
