February 16th 2025.
On February 13, a complaint was filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by NYPD Lieutenant Emelio Rodriques. In the complaint, Rodriques alleges that James Caban, the twin brother of former police commissioner Edward Caban, had been impersonating him with the assistance of Inspector Aneudy Castillo. This news was reported by The Gothamist, who detailed the occasions where the Caban brothers switched places, thanks to the help of Castillo, who was the commanding officer of the 34th Precinct.
Rodriques explained to The New York Post that whenever Caban was coming, Castillo would announce it, making everyone, including Rodriques, believe that it was the actual commissioner. In fact, Rodriques and other officers would even salute him. However, this was all part of the deception, as it was actually James Caban impersonating his brother.
According to Rodriques' complaint, Castillo and other officers had made it clear to him that any nightclubs or establishments associated with James Caban were off-limits to police oversight. As part of his role as the precinct's integrity control officer, Rodriques was responsible for ensuring that officers complied with the law. However, he faced discrimination and retaliation for trying to report the misconduct he had witnessed. Rodriques, who is Jamaican, believes that this mistreatment was based on his race and nationality. He also stated that he was removed from his position by Castillo.
In response to these allegations, Castillo denied them vehemently in a statement he sent via email to The Gothamist. He expressed his desire to respond to these "lies," but noted that he needed clearance from the NYPD press office to do so officially.
When contacted for comment, the NYPD declined to provide a statement on the record. However, Rodriques' complaint paints a stark picture of the corruption and abuse of power within the 34th Precinct.
In September, Edward Caban resigned from his position as police commissioner after the Justice Department began investigating corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams. At the same time, Caban was also under investigation by the IRS and the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan.
A press release issued by The Sanders Firm, the law firm representing Rodriques, stated that the NYPD had engaged in racial discrimination and created a hostile work environment for Rodriques. The release also alleged that Rodriques faced retaliation for exposing corruption and misconduct within the department.
Eric Sanders, Rodriques' lawyer, stated that the complaint exposes the deep-seated corruption at the upper levels of the NYPD. The press release also mentioned that the NYPD has 10 days to respond to the complaint, which would give them until February 23.
In conclusion, Lieutenant Rodriques, who has dedicated over two decades to serving and protecting the people of New York, has found himself facing discrimination, retaliation, and harassment for simply doing the right thing. His case is a clear example of the corruption within the upper ranks of the NYPD, and the law firm representing him is calling for a full federal investigation into the department's practices and those responsible for Rodriques' mistreatment. This news comes at a time when the top uniformed officer in New York City has resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
