What you should know
- Former New York City Sergeants Benevolent Association (or SBA) president Ed Mullins, a controversial figure who resigned last year amid an ongoing federal investigation that led to raids on his home and the headquarters of the union in Manhattan faces federal criminal charges Wednesday, multiple law enforcement sources said.
- Mullins filed for retirement last October and stepped down as union leader after the FBI raid.
- The New York City police had placed him on modified duty and removed his gun and badge.
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NEW YORK — Former New York City Sergeants Benevolent Association (or SBA) president Ed Mullins, a controversial figure who resigned last year amid an ongoing federal investigation that led to raids, is expected to at his home and union headquarters in Manhattan, faces federal criminal charges Wednesday, multiple law enforcement sources said.
The charges were not immediately clear. The FBI confirmed that Mullins was in custody as of mid-morning Wednesday.
Mullins filed for retirement last October and stepped down as union leader after the FBI raid. The New York City police had placed him on modified duty and removed his gun and badge.
The FBI raid in early October was part of a criminal investigation by the office and the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
“The nature and scope of this criminal investigation have yet to be determined. However, it is clear that Chairman Mullins appears to be the target of the federal investigation,” a message from the SBA Executive Board to members at that time read. moment. The board went on to say that Mullins had resigned as president of the union.
In the letter to members, the SBA said it would cooperate with the investigation.
“Like all of us, Ed Mullins is entitled to the presumption of innocence, and we ask that he withhold trial until all the facts have been established,” the letter from the SBA executive board said. “However, the daily operations and important business of the SBA cannot be distracted by the existence of this investigation.”
The SBA represents 13,000 current and former members of the New York City police force, according to its website, and controls a $264 million retirement fund; describes itself as the fifth largest police union in the United States.
The raids came shortly after the start of an internal NYPD trial on a variety of administrative charges against Mullins, including an episode in which he tweeted an arrest record for the mayor’s daughter.
He was later found guilty and deducted 70 days of vacation.
FBI raids New York City Police Sergeants Union headquarters
A police officer since 1982, Mullins rose to sergeant, a rank higher than detective but lower than captain and lieutenant, in 1993 and was elected president of the sergeants’ union in 2002. Under Mullins’ leadership, the union fought for better wages, with contracts resulting in wage increases of 40%, and held a prominent position in the movement against the reform.
But he also sparked controversy with his brazen comments on television and social media, leading to a very public war of words with then-Mayor Bill de Blasio. He also gave a TV interview with a mug referencing the QAnon conspiracy theory on his desk, prompting questions about whether he supported the fringe movement.
Although he was a full-time union boss, Mullins was allowed by city law to retain his sergeant position and collect salaries from both the union and the police department. In 2020, Mullins earned more than $220,000 between the two of them, according to public records: $88,757 from the union and $133,195 from the NYPD.
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