Four high-ranking former New York City police officials are accusing Mayor Eric Adams and his top deputies of doling out promotions to unqualified allies as part of a scheme that also involved alleged cash bribes paid to the ex-police commissioner.

A group of former top New York City Police Department officials filed a series of four lawsuits claiming the force is led by cronyism, corruption, and retaliation. The suits were brought by former Chief of Detectives James Essig,

The former chiefs argued in court papers they lost their jobs after raising concerns that unqualified officers connected to then-police commissioner Edward Caban were being promoted to sensitive positions in the department.