Public Safety Deputy Mayor Phil Banks dodged questions Friday about whether he could be leaving the administration by the end of the year.

Banks was asked several times about his future in City Hall during a public safety briefing. Without answering the question Banks said the public “could care less,” about his position, insisting the public cares more about public safety.

What You Need To Know

  • Phil Banks resigned abruptly from the NYPD as Chief of the Department in 2014

  • Banks was later named as an unindicted co-conspirator in an NYPD corruption probeBanks was later named as an unindicted co-conspirator in an NYPD corruption probe

  • Banks was named deputy mayor of public safety in 2022

A longtime friend of Mayor Eric Adams, Phil Banks, rose through the NYPD ranks to become chief of the department.

In 2014, Banks resigned just before a federal investigation came to light. Federal prosecutors alleged Banks accepted international trips and expensive gifts from business men in exchange for police department favors.

Banks was never charged with a crime and has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

As deputy mayor, Banks has been considered a key architect in the mayor’s public safety plan. Murders, shooting incidents, transit crimes and burglaries are all down so far this year across the city compared to last year.