NYPD Lt. Quathisha Epps wants suspension lifted following Maddrey sexual abuse claims
An NYPD lieutenant who raked in north of $200,000 in overtime last year is demanding her “unjust” suspension be lifted — days after coming forward with bombshell allegations that she was sexually abused by former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey.
Quathisha Epps, 51, faced “quid pro quo sexual harassment” while working for Maddrey, her lawyer alleged in a Tuesday letter to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch calling for the lieutenant’s reinstatement.
Epps, the department’s highest-paid employee last year, was suspended last week amid an Internal Affairs probe into her eye-popping overtime haul from an administrative role in Maddrey’s office.
The lieutenant’s attorney, Eric Sanders, said in his letter to Tisch that Epps should also be given full back pay, as well the opportunity to retire in good standing with a pension next month.
“This request comes amidst deeply concerning circumstances, including allegations of quid pro quo sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct, and an unjust suspension,” Sanders wrote.
“While these matters require careful and thorough review, Lieutenant Epps must be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect as the situation is resolved.”
With roughly $204,000 in overtime last year and her $164,477 base salary, Epps took home more than $400,000 — well more than her then-boss, Maddrey, who made about $292,000 in 2023, records show.
Investigators are looking into allegations Epps fudged her hours and approved the time slips herself, in addition to complaints that she either arrived at work late, left early or didn’t show up at all, sources previously told The Post.
Epps filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission discrimination complaint against the city afterward, accusing Maddrey of demanding sex in exchange for giving her enormous overtime.
She claimed to The Post in an explosive report on Saturday she was the victim of unwanted sexual advances by Maddrey for over a year.
“I think he’s a predator,” Epps said of Maddrey, who abruptly resigned late Friday after The Post contacted the NYPD about the allegations, which he has denied.
Epps filed paperwork on Dec. 16 – two days before her suspension — for a vested separation retirement with her last day pegged for mid-January.
If she were to leave by next month, she would be months shy of the 20-year mark that provides full benefits.
Sanders, her lawyer, said in the letter to Tisch that Epps should be granted permission to wrap up that retirement process so she can leave the department “with the dignity and recognition of her years of service merit.”
He also wrote she should be issued an unrestricted retired police identification card and a full carry permit.
“This will ensure her continued safety and rights as a retired police law enforcement officer,” he wrote.
Turmoil in the department has led to Tisch, who’s been at the helm for less than a month, to make several personnel changes in an effort to clean house.
