Federal authorities have searched the home of New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban.
“The Department is aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York involving members of the armed forces,” the NYPD said in a statement to BBC News.
Other high-ranking New York City officials appointed by Mayor Eric Adams – who is under investigation for corruption – had their homes searched on Thursday, including First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III.
According to a New York City Hall lawyer, investigators have not indicated that anyone in the mayor’s office is under investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI, which were reportedly involved in some of the raids, declined to comment.
As of Thursday evening, there was no official reason for the raids.
Sources told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that at least one of the raids was an investigation into the electronic devices of NYPD senior officers.
Ms Wright and Mr Banks’ mobile phones were reportedly seized during a search of their homes on Thursday.
Mr. Caban has led the NYPD since 2023. He is the city’s first Latino police commissioner and is considered a close ally of Mayor Adams.
Ms. Wright shares her home with David Banks, the city’s schools chancellor and brother of Phil Banks, the other city official whose home was searched.
It is unclear whether both Ms Wright and Phil Banks were the target of the raid or whether only one of them was in focus.
Investigators have not indicated to Adams’ office that “the mayor or his staff are the target of any investigation,” Lisa Zornberg, City Hall’s chief legal counsel, said in a statement to the BBC.
“As a former member of law enforcement, the mayor has repeatedly made it clear that all members of the team must abide by the law.”
Phil Banks, a former police chief of the New York Police Department, has had a history of legal troubles. Federal prosecutors identified him as an unindicted co-conspirator in a bribery scheme against police during the mayor’s last term.
Banks left the department in 2014 without ever being accused of wrongdoing.
Mr Adams’ time as mayor was overshadowed by police investigations.
The FBI last year raided the home of Brianna Suggs, Mr. Adams’ top fundraiser, as part of an investigation believed to be into whether the Adams campaign had received illegal campaign contributions from the Turkish government and other foreign sources.
As part of this investigation, the homes of other city officials and consultants were searched, and Mr. Adams himself was subpoenaed.
The mayor had previously stated that he was cooperating with all investigations and stressed that he was not accused of any wrongdoing.
