Interim NYPD commissioner Tom Donlon and his chief of staff Tarik Sheppard got into a tense public dispute along the route of the New York City Marathon. According to multiple sources, the argument got so heated that their shouting could be heard hundreds of feet away. Their disagreement was eventually broken up when Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey intervened.
The reason for the public spat remains unclear. The Daily News claimed that sources indicated it was an unspecified “management-related” issue, but the New York Times and the New York Post have both reported Donlon and Sheppard were arguing over where they would stand for photos taken with NYPD officers who had run the marathon. The Post also included a photo that they claim captured the moment that led to the argument, showing Sheppard in the foreground, with Donlon’s face (circled in red) peering out from behind, visibly scowling. Official photos from the NYPD press office featuring both men showed Donlon holding a trophy with the NYPD’s runners, and Sheppard standing next to him giving a thumbs-up.
In a statement, the NYPD said that “the matter was promptly discussed and resolved,” and that there was no “physical altercation” between the two men. Asked about the incident on Monday, mayor Eric Adams likened the argument to something one might have in “any type of relationship – a business relationship, a marriage, relationship with your children.” Regarding whether the incident could result in disciplinary action, Adams deferred to the interim commissioner, stating that Donlon would “make that determination if there needs to be some next steps.”
According to the Post, Donlon and Sheppard’s argument grew out of an already-rocky relationship, as an unnamed NYPD vet told the tabloid that “the mayor quietly promoted Sheppard to acting chief of staff over the interim commissioner’s objections.” This same source went on to claim that the mayor’s move was “the most disrespectful act towards a police commissioner” that they had ever seen, and that Donlon’s hands were tied despite Adams’ claims that he was free to discipline Sheppard as he saw fit.
A veteran FBI agent from the agency’s anti-terror unit, Tom Donlon was appointed interim commissioner of the NYPD in September, replacing former commissioner Edward Caban, who resigned after federal authorities raided his home. Tarik Sheppard, who has been on the force for 20 years, was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Public Information under Caban in August 2023.
