NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Just a little over a week on the job and federal authorities raided the homes of NYPD interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon.
Donlon had been pulled out of retirement from his federal law enforcement career to be the city’s temporary top cop after Chief Edward Caban resigned following an FBI raid at his own home.
In a brief statement late Saturday night, Donlon wrote: "On Friday, September 20, federal authorities executed search warrants at my residences. They took materials that came into my possession approximately 20 years ago and are unrelated to my work with the New York City Police Department.
This is not a department matter, and the department will not be commenting.”
Just last week, Phil Walzak, a former mayoral advisor who also worked for the NYPD and many other top politicians was singing Donlon’s praises but now there is caution.
Investigators reportedly may be looking into whether Donlon took classified documents while he was with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.
So a temporary police commissioner who was supposed to bring stability to the department may be doing just the opposite, according to political consultant Hank Sheinkopf.
“The mayor has no choice but to hold onto this interim commissioner for the time being. It can’t just throw them off the side because he does look like things are completely out of control. get the command of the police department upfront. Have them run the agency on a daily basis and make it appear that way. Conferences with the guys with the white shirts with big badges and say look what we’re doing to make sure New York is safe," said Sheinkopf.