A high-ranking employee from the New York City probation department claims she was terminated for exposing a supposed romantic link between her superior and a key colleague, prompting an investigation from the city’s corruption oversight body.
Ebony Huntley, the former chief investigator for the New York City Department of Probation, initiated a wrongful termination lawsuit last Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court. She asserts that department leadership retaliated against her after she reported concerns regarding Commissioner Sharun Goodwin.
Goodwin, who was appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in January, is at the center of these allegations.
Upon filing the lawsuit, Huntley stated that the New York City Department of Investigation reached out to inform her they are examining her claims. A spokesperson for the DOI confirmed awareness of the situation but offered no further comments.
This lawsuit represents the first significant controversy for Mamdani’s administration as he marks his first 100 days in office, a term launched with a commitment to uphold ethical standards and clean governance.
Details of the Allegations
Court documents reveal that Huntley received an anonymous tip in late March, alleging a past intimate relationship between Goodwin and the department’s general counsel, Wayne McKenzie, who was appointed after Goodwin took charge.
The complaint suggested that this relationship could lead to conflicts of interest, potentially affecting impartial decisions within the department.
Further allegations have emerged against other officials, including HR Director Zenia Melendez, accused of having a history of misconduct in the workplace.
The allegations indicate a troubling environment within the department, marked by employee apprehensions about retaliation and favoritism. Many employees desire to perform their roles in a professional atmosphere absent of such fears.
A Troubling Termination
Huntley claimed she forwarded the anonymous complaint to the DOI as part of her official responsibilities. However, according to her lawsuit, a DOI attorney indicated intentions to inform McKenzie, who was named in the complaint, a move Huntley contested.
She warned against informing McKenzie due to his involvement in the allegations. Nevertheless, she was called into a meeting with McKenzie the following day and was terminated immediately.
In her termination meeting, McKenzie purportedly stated, “I cannot have a person like Ebony working for me. Effective immediately, you are terminated.” When Huntley expressed confusion over her dismissal, McKenzie allegedly inquired about her integrity.
The formal notice of her dismissal, dated March 30, provided no reasons for her termination.
Huntley expressed frustration in a statement, asserting, “I did what I was supposed to do,” and insisting that her firing was unjust.
She is currently seeking unspecified damages and has named both McKenzie and Goodwin in her legal action.
The scandal arrives amidst existing scrutiny on the probation department, where investigations into former Probation Commissioner Juanita Holmes are ongoing following allegations of nepotism during her tenure under former Mayor Eric Adams.
Mayor Mamdani previously praised Goodwin’s extensive experience and commitment to service. Following her appointment, Goodwin committed to addressing the department’s concerns.
When pressed about past issues, Mamdani redirected the conversation, emphasizing the necessity for his commissioner to concentrate on future improvements.
