NYPD Chief of Department John Chell has told close associates he’s planning to put in his papers to retire soon, possibly as early as this week, after an at times tumultuous tenure as the city’s top uniformed cop, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the move.
Rumors about Chell’s departure have swirled since last year, when Jessica Tisch took over as police commissioner in the wake of her predecessor, Edward Caban, resigning after being ensnared in a federal corruption investigation.
But two sources familiar with the matter told the Daily News on Monday that Chell is now finalizing his retirement plans. The sources said he plans to seek a disability pension that would provide him with a mostly tax-free, lifetime benefit equal to 75% of his salary. He’s applying for the disability pension because of an ankle injury he sustained on Randalls Island while on duty last year, and the NYPD pension board is expected to vote as early as Wednesday vote on whether to grant him that designation, sources added.
Chell was as of last fiscal year pulling in a $276,000 annual salary.
Chell didn’t immediately return a request for comment Monday, and neither did the NYPD press office. Kayla Mamelak, a spokeswoman for Mayor Adams, said she didn’t have any immediate comment.
A source confirmed Chell is expected to go on conservative talk radio host Sid Rosenberg’s morning show Wednesday to discuss his plans for the future.
A prominent and at times controversial ally of Adams, Chell has long been rumored to be considering a job in right-wing media, as previously reported by The News.
Chell’s exit comes on the heels of Adams ditching his bid for reelection after facing pressure for weeks from President Trump’s team and others to drop out to help clear the field against Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani, who has a history of being critical of the NYPD.
For months, Chell has been eyeing retirement, but a source close to him said he wanted to wait to pull the trigger until the situation became clearer around Adams, whose reelection run was considered a long shot amid continued fallout from his corruption indictment and ties to Trump.
Chell, who has landed in hot water for his own ties to Trump, joined the NYPD on Feb. 28, 1994 and rose to the agency’s highest uniformed post on Jan. 1, with his promotion ceremony taking place on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Tisch promoted Chell to the top uniformed spot after Jeffrey Maddrey quit as chief of department in December 2024 while under investigation for a range of misconduct, including exchanging overtime pay for sex with a subordinate.
In 2008, while a lieutenant, Chell shot and killed an alleged car thief, a discharge Chell has maintained was accidental. The NYPD and the Brooklyn district attorney’s office did not bring any criminal or disciplinary charges against Chell over the incident, but a civil court jury found he intentionally fired his weapon, awarding $2.5 million to the slain man’s mother.
Since that incident, Chell has risen through the ranks, becoming the head of the Brooklyn North Detective Bureau in 2021 before being named chief of patrol under Adams in December 2022.
As a 31-year veteran of the NYPD, Chell has touted that crime has trended down under Adams. The mayor, in turn, has been a steadfast defender of Chell, including when the chief faced criticism for his outspokenness on social media.
“First of all, I’m a fan of Chief Chell,” Adams said in spring 2024. “I just like his style. He’s very honest and candid. I know people not used to be people being honest and candid. I think he’s a hard worker.”
As chief of patrol, Chell was instrumental in creating a special unit that focused on auto-related crimes, though a series of fatal pursuits prompted Tisch earlier this year to order policy changes.
At times, Chell has also been controversial for his public remarks, especially in 2024 when the city Department of Investigation found his social media posts slamming department critics and journalists to be improper and in violation of city rules.
Chell courted controversy for wading into politics, too, such as when he planned and then ultimately canceled a speech at a Queens Republican club while openly signaling support for Trump, including by appearing in full uniform on the right-wing network Newsmax last year.
This past summer, Chell and Kaz Daughtry, Adams’ top public safety deputy at City Hall, golfed with Trump at the president’s club in New Jersey and posed for photos with him, flashing thumbs up.
Brooklyn Rev. Kevin McCall, a civil rights activist who has been critical of Chell’s police career, said the chief’s exit presents an opportunity for the NYPD. “With his departure, the NYPD has a chance to lead with clarity, integrity, and a true vision for public trust,” McCall said.
Originally Published: October 6, 2025 at 12:04 PM EDT
