Edward Caban

Edward A. Caban (born September 8, 1967) is an American police officer who served as the New York City Police Commissioner from 2023 to 2024, having been appointed by Mayor Eric Adams. Caban previously served as First Deputy Police Commissioner under Keechant Sewell. He was the first Latino to serve as Commissioner of the NYPD.

Early life

Caban was born and raised in the Bronx to a family of Puerto Rican descent. He graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1985, and attended St. John’s University and graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He joined the NYPD in 1991 and rose through the ranks to Sergeant three years later. He made his way up to Inspector and has worked in a variety of precincts, most recently as the adjutant in Brooklyn North patrol. His father, Juan, was a New York City Transit Police Detective who also served as the President of the Transit Police Hispanic Society. Three of Edward’s brothers, including his twin James Caban, have also served in the NYPD.

Career

On June 12, 2023, it was announced that Caban would fill in as acting NYPD commissioner after Keechant Sewell departed. On July 17, he was formally appointed as NYPD commissioner.

In June 2024, ProPublica revealed that, during his first year in office, Caban had used his authority of retention to "retain," or prevent from going to trial, the disciplinary cases of 54 officers before the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, including exercising this authority in more than 30 cases where department lawyers and the officers involved had already agreed to disciplinary action.

In September 2024, the FBI raided Caban's home and seized his electronic devices in a federal corruption investigation. Caban's twin brother James also had his phone seized. The investigation into James Caban is focused on his involvement in the nightclub industry and potential monetary benefit he received from his brother's position at the NYPD. James Caban was fired from the NYPD in 2001 after wrongfully detaining and threatening a suspect.

After the raids, several area bars have claimed that Caban's twin brother told them he could resolve "problems with NYPD" over noise complaints if they paid him a $2,500 fee.

New York City Council members Robert Holden, Lincoln Restler, and Tiffany Cabán, as well as the New York Post editorial board, called for Caban to step down as NYPD Commissioner.

A week after the raids, Caban resigned, stating, "for the good of this city and this department—I have made the difficult decision to resign as Police Commissioner." Caban's lawyer issued a statement that claimed, "he is not a target of the investigation according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan." Former New York Homeland Security Director Tom Donlon was named as Caban's interim replacement.

Personal life

In September 2023, Caban, along with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, became a Prince Hall Freemason as well as a 32nd Degree Member of the Scottish Rite.