Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks resigns
NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York City Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III has resigned from his position, his spokespeople said on Monday.
The resignation comes after sources said Friday that First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright was also expected to resign. Philip Banks’ brother, Schools Chancellor David Banks, will step down from his position on Oct. 16 after initially promising to stay until Dec. 31.
Multiple members of Adams’ inner circle have resigned following the mayor’s indictment.
Philip Banks’ home was raided by federal authorities back in September, sources told PIX11 News. Wright and David Banks’ house was also raided by federal authorities.
Both raids are not believed to be connected to the indictment related to Adams’ mayoral campaign, according to sources.
Adams said that Philip Banks started planning to leave six months ago on PIX11 Morning News. Philip Banks led the ghost car crackdown and marijuana enforcement in the city, according to Adams.
"So I asked him to hold on a little longer," Adams said. "Let's get this up and operating… so I would love for him to stay as long as he wanted, but he stated, 'Eric, I want to do something else in my life and I don't want to be under this constant communication.'"
Philip Banks was the NYPD's chief of department from 2013 to 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. He later became the deputy mayor for public safety in 2022.
Adams was accused of taking bribes and illegal campaign contributions from the Turkish government and businessmen. He pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national.
Adams could face more charges and others around him might be indicted, federal prosecutors said last week.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.