"The full scope of the inquiry is unclear. But the former commissioner's nearly three-year reign at the probation department was fraught with allegations of nepotism and patronage, circumvention of civil service rules, retaliation against employees, bypassing of procurement rules and manipulation of key agency metrics. She was one in a string of Mayor Eric Adams' appointees in law enforcement who faced accusations of abusing their power."
"In the past two months, Holmes has been sued by two former senior aides who accused her of abusing her power. A spokesperson for the Department of Probation declined to comment on personnel matters. Holmes and her attorney Jack Angelou declined to comment."
"The investigation and lawsuits represent a low point for Holmes, who took over the Department of Probation after a decorated career in the NYPD that ended abruptly. Holmes served in the department for 35 years and rose to become the chief of patrol. She was the highest-ranking Black woman in the department."
Former New York City Probation Commissioner Juanita Holmes is under criminal investigation by the Manhattan district attorney's office following a referral from the city's Department of Investigation. Multiple current and former probation employees were questioned as part of the probe. Holmes's nearly three-year tenure was marked by numerous allegations including nepotism, patronage, circumvention of civil service rules, employee retaliation, procurement violations, and manipulation of agency metrics. She is one of several Mayor Eric Adams' law enforcement appointees accused of abusing power. Recently, two former senior aides sued Holmes for abuse of power. Holmes previously defended her work, emphasizing transparency and data collection reform to combat recidivism and crime.
#criminal-investigation #nyc-probation-department #government-misconduct #abuse-of-power #law-enforcement-leadership
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