NEW YORK – The New York City Sergeants Benevolent Association (or SBA) appointed a new president after his controversial ex-leader resigned on Tuesday late at night after his home and the Manhattan union headquarters were raided by the FBI in connection with a criminal investigation overseen by federal prosecutors.
In a concise comment to News 4 New York, the SBA spokesperson said: “Vincent Vallelong is now installed as SBA president.”
Vallelog, who resides in Staten Island, previously served as the Director and Marshal of the SBA’s Office of Detectives.
Throughout his career with the NYPD, Vallelong has worked in Precincts 5 and 62, as well as the Manhattan South Task Force, the 63 Theft Detection Module, and the 62nd Detective Squad. In addition, as Sergeant, he was assigned to South Brooklyn Detective Operations, where he was an SBA deputy.
The news comes a day after the FBI was spotted raiding the home of then-SBA president Ed Mullin, as well as union headquarters. It was part of a criminal investigation being conducted by the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
“This morning, as you no doubt know, agents from the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York executed a search warrant at the headquarters of the Benevolent Association of Sergeants and at the residence of President Ed Mullins.” , reads Tuesday’s message from the SBA Executive Board to members.
“The nature and scope of this criminal investigation has yet to be determined. However, it is clear that President Mullins is apparently the target of the federal investigation. Given the seriousness of this matter and the uncertainty of its outcome, the Executive Board The SBA has requested that President Mullins resign as SBA president. Tonight, President Mullins agreed to resign as SBA president, “it added.
The FBI confirmed that the bureau executed the search warrant at the police union’s offices, as well as a home in Port Washington, which was later determined to belong to Mullins.
However, prosecutors and the FBI have still not disclosed the motive for the investigation. In the letter to members, the SBA said it will cooperate with the investigation.
“Like all of us, Ed Mullins is entitled to the presumption of innocence, and we ask that he not prosecute until all the facts have been established,” the letter states. “However, the day-to-day operations and important business of the SBA cannot be distracted by the existence of this investigation.”
The SBA represents 13,000 current and retired NYPD members, according to its website. The union describes itself as the fifth largest police organization in the United States. A lawyer for the union did not immediately return a call for comment.
Mullins is a controversial figure who has publicly clashed with Mayor Bill de Blasio and with the leadership of the New York Police Department. De Blasio confirmed the federal operation Tuesday at the SBA office, but said he had no details.
Last month, Mullins faced an internal trial by the NYPD on a variety of administrative charges, including an episode in which he tweeted an arrest record for the mayor’s daughter.
A day after resigning as president of the New York City Sergeants Benevolent Association, Mullins was placed in modified duties by the New York City Police Department amid the ongoing corruption-related investigation that led to the raids on his home and union headquarters in Manhattan, two law enforcement sources told our sister network NBC 4 New York.
A senior NYPD official also said Mullins is using the remaining time he has accumulated and taking vacation days, and will submit documentation for his retirement in the near future. Additionally, the NYPD Office of Internal Affairs removed Mullins’ gun and shield on Wednesday, the NYPD official said.
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