Ed Mullins, bombastic NYPD union chief, resigns amid federal probe
Ed Mullins, the controversial head of the NYPD’s Sergeants Benevolent Association, stepped down on Tuesday night amid a federal probe into the alleged misappropriation of union funds.
His resignation, announced in a union email to members, comes after FBI agents raided SBA offices in Manhattan and Mullins’ home in Port Washington, Long Island, Tuesday morning.
“Given the severity of this matter and the uncertainty of its outcome, the SBA Executive Board has requested that President Mullins resign from his position as SBA President,” the email said.
“This evening, President Mullins has agreed to tender his resignation as President of the SBA,” the message continued.
Agents seized computer gear from Mullins’ home, and other potential evidence, including boxes of documents, were carried out of the police union’s Tribeca headquarters.
FBI spokesperson Martin Feely confirmed the raids but wouldn’t elaborate on the nature of the probe at the time.
High-ranking law enforcement official said the investigation involved suspicions of mail and wire fraud, or misappropriations of SBA funds.
“The nature and scope of this criminal investigation has yet to be determined,” the union said in Tuesday night’s email. “We have no reason to believe that any other member of the SBA is involved or targeted in this matter.”
A police officer since 1982, Mullins rose to sergeant in 1993 and was elected president of the sergeants union in 2002. The SBA represents about 13,000 active and retired NYPD sergeants and controls a $264 million retirement fund.
Still a sergeant with the NYPD, Mullins will be sent back to his original command at Lower Manhattan’s 1st Precinct — unless he opts to retire from the department, sources said.
During his tenure as the SBA head, the bombastic union chief has fought for better pay for members — while also publicly sparring with city officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, over police reform and other issues.
He landed in hot water last year for tweeting the unredacted arrest report of the mayor’s daughter, Chiara de Blasio after she was busted during George Floyd protests in Manhattan.
Mullins was slapped with NYPD disciplinary charges for releasing the paperwork and for other tweets in which he called a city official and a city council member a “bitch” and a “first class whore,” respectively.
The case went to trial in September but was put on hold when one of Mullins’ lawyers experienced an unspecified medical emergency. It’s set to resume on Oct. 27.
Mullins also sparked outrage in 2019 when he circulated a racist video to members of the SBA and urged them to “pay close attention to every word.”
He made more than $220,000 last year — $88,757 from the union and $133,195 from the NYPD, where he retains his sergeant’s position, according to public records.
Neither he nor his attorney have commented on the federal probe.
