Will NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban resign? Here's what we know after federal agents seized his cellphones.
NEW YORK -- Will Edward Caban resign as New York City's police commissioner?
There are many questions and few answers about Caban's future with the NYPD amid a federal corruption investigation that also involves his twin brother.
Caban's cellphones were confiscated in a federal raid on top officials in Mayor Eric Adams' administration last week.
Mayor won't guarantee Caban's future with NYPD
Four sources insisted to CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer that Caban will resign in the coming days, but the commissioner, himself, told us Monday afternoon those are "false rumors."
Adams, however, was unwilling to guarantee how much longer Caban will run the nation's largest police department. When asked if he still has faith in Caban and if he will be the city's top cop in two months, the mayor said, "I don't think anything in life is guaranteed."
"When I chose Eddie, I chose him for his experience and what he brought after 30-something years of service. So you know, rumors are always out there, Marcia. You can never keep up with the rumors that you hear. There was nothing that came from me that fed those rumors at all," Adams added. "There's no joy waking up and seeing any negative comments made about you in writing or anywhere."
Adams tested positive for COVID-19 after his press conference.
A top police official addressing rumors of Caban's resignation said, "Any talk of a resignation is speculation at this point. He could resign because he doesn't want to be a distraction. It doesn't mean he's guilty of anything."
New York City Council Member Robert Holden, a long-time NYPD supporter, said on CBS News New York's "The Point with Marcia Kramer" on Sunday that Caban should step down.
"I do think he has to do something because it does cast a bad, deep shadow over the police department," Holden said. "We have to have confidence he's staying within the law. He sets an example for the whole department."
Arlo Devlin-Brown, the former chief of the Public Corruption Unit in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office, talked about what could happen if Caban doesn't resign.
"If he does stay on, it is likely to have a negative and damaging affect on relations between federal prosecutors and the FBI on the one hand and police on the other," Devlin-Brown said.
Caban's twin brother involved in federal probe, sources say
The federal probe of Adams administration officials hits close to home for the police commissioner.
Sources say Caban's identical twin brother, James Caban, is being eyed by federal agents over allegations he worked as a fixer for restaurants and nightclubs in Manhattan. Edward Caban's brother allegedly worked to smooth things over between the popular establishments and cops giving them trouble over such things as noise complaints and other violations.
Police sources confirmed Monday the feds seized electronics from at least 10 others in the NYPD, including commanding officers in Midtown and Chelsea -- precincts with nightlife hotspots.
Devlin-Brown spoke about the scope of the feds' seizures.
"The main thing it signifies to me is the investigation is pretty advanced because the feds do not seize devices or search homes of government officials unless they have a very good reason to do so, especially when you're talking about high-level police officials," Devlin-Brown said.