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Ed Mullins, the controversial head of the NYPD’s Sergeants Benevolent Association, resigned Tuesday night amid a federal investigation into the alleged embezzlement of union funds.
His resignation, announced in an email from the union to members, comes after FBI agents raided the SBA offices in Manhattan and Mullins’ home in Port Washington, Long Island on Tuesday morning.
“Given the seriousness of this matter and the uncertainty of its outcome, the SBA board of directors has asked President Mullins to step down as president of the SBA,” the email read.
“Tonight, President Mullins has agreed to resign as SBA chairman,” the message continued.
Officers seized computer equipment from Mullins’ home and other potential evidence, including boxes of documents, was taken to the police union headquarters in Tribeca.
FBI spokesman Martin Feely confirmed the raids but did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation at the time.
A senior law enforcement official said the investigation focused on suspicions of mail and email fraud, or SBA embezzlement.
“The nature and scope of this criminal investigation have not yet been determined,” the union said in Tuesday night’s email. “We have no reason to believe that any other SBA member is involved or targeted in this matter.”
A police officer since 1982, Mullins became a sergeant in 1993 and was elected president of the sergeant’s union in 2002. The SBA represents approximately 13,000 active and retired NYPD sergeants and controls a retirement fund of $ 264 million.
During his tenure, the bombastic union leader fought for better pay for members – while publicly training with city officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, on police reform and d ‘other problems.
He landed in hot water last year for tweeting the unwritten arrest report of the mayor’s daughter Chiara de Blasio after being arrested during the George Floyd protests in Manhattan.
Mullins was slapped with disciplinary charges from the NYPD for posting the documents and for other tweets in which he called a city official and city council member a “bitch” and “first-class fuck,” respectively.
The case went to trial in September, but was put on hold when one of Mullins’ attorneys faced an unspecified medical emergency. It is expected to resume on October 27.
Mullins also sparked outrage in 2019 when he released a racist video to members of the SBA and urged them to “pay close attention to every word.”
He earned more than $ 220,000 last year – $ 88,757 from the union and $ 133,195 from the NYPD, where he retains his position as sergeant, according to public records.
Neither he nor his lawyer commented on the federal investigation.
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