STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Four former high-ranking NYPD officials allege in a series of lawsuits that Mayor Eric Adams and his “longtime friends and cronies” in the Police Department retaliated against them and pushed them toward resignation.

A state judge has granted a temporary restraining order preventing the NYPD from firing police officers who it claims were hired in an “improper process.” In a statement, PBA President Patrick Hendry said: “We grateful for the pause in these unjust firings,

Top NYPD brass doled out coveted jobs in specialty units to "unqualified" friends and sold promotions for cash, according to several lawsuits claiming embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams presided over a culture of "corruption and cronyism" in the nation's largest police department.

The allegations were made in a lawsuit filed by a former chief of detectives, James Essig, who said he was forced out of the NYPD after raising concerns about the promotions.

NYPD ousted 31 officers for hiring discrepancies amid corruption allegations and a lawsuit by former chief James Essig.

The mayor is touting his turn at City Hall as a public safety success. Four lawsuits filed Tuesday serve as a reminder his tenure was not so seamless.

Edward Caban has decided to resign as commissioner of the NYPD, Mayor Eric Adams announced at a press briefing Thursday. "A short time ago, I accepted the resignation of Edward Caban.