Ex-Police Chief Resigns Over Domestic Violence Claims and Pardon Bribe Allegations

An ex-police chief who once led America's first Muslim-majority city has quit a new job in New York after facing serious accusations of domestic violence and attempting to buy a pardon from Donald Trump for up to $5 million. Jamiel Altaheri, 43, held this high-profile position under Mayor Zohran Mamdani at the New York City Health and Hospitals system before stepping down just one day into the role. He had previously served with the NYPD for twenty years before moving to Hamtramck in 2024, where he made history as chief of that small Michigan community.

The explosive lawsuit claims Altaheri beat his wife and ripped out her fingernail over alleged infidelity issues. It further alleges he tried to bribe a friend of the president to secure official forgiveness for up to five million dollars in value. After questions surfaced regarding these claims, Altaheri resigned shortly after Mayor Mamdani took office. He told The Daily Mail that these accusations were baseless and old news driven by Islamophobia in the Midwest region.

Investigation reports from last year already noted misconduct issues during his time in Hamtramck, yet a full August 2026 report by Real Clear Investigations recently revealed the complete extent of the allegations. Former City Manager Max Garbarino and special investigator David Adamczyk accused Altaheri of firing them because they planned to report these claims publicly. The lawsuit also names five city council members and former Mayor Amer Ghalib as defendants who allegedly faced retaliation for their involvement in the investigation process.

One particularly disturbing detail states that Altaheri told his subordinates not to write official reports about hitting his wife because formal procedures were supposedly incorrect ways to handle such cases. This behavior suggests a dangerous disregard for legal protocols and public safety standards within law enforcement ranks. The former chief accepted a settlement with the city last fall after resigning from his position as Hamtramck police chief. His defense remains firm that Islamophobic narratives created false stories meant to damage his reputation unfairly.

Altaheri cofounded the NYPD Muslim Officers Society before establishing the Yemeni American Law Enforcement Officers Association during his career. These organizations highlight his background in supporting minority officers within federal and state systems. However, current allegations suggest a stark contrast between public service ideals and alleged personal misconduct that could harm community trust significantly. The potential impact on diverse neighborhoods remains unclear as these legal battles continue to unfold across multiple jurisdictions today.

A copy of the settlement agreement grabbed by Click On Detroit and handed to the New York Times shows Altaheri took a lump-sum severance check equal to five months of his base salary. The official record lists his departure as a voluntary resignation. In an interview with the Daily Mail, he stated, 'I retired from NYPD honorably and went to Hamtramck to develop and advance this police department, creating the first youth and citizens academy as well as hiring black, Asian and women officers - I had a lawsuit against the city and voluntarily resigned and recovered severance pay and was offered [my] job back at [a] later time which I declined.' He insisted that claims of abuse or misconduct were nothing but defamation. Altaheri claimed he walked away with an apology on his hands from both the mayor and the city council once he left the force.

'Islamophobia in the state of Michigan and across this nation has led to the spread of false narratives and just pure hate and stupidity,' he told reporters. Hamtramck used to be a town dominated by Polish immigrants, but that changed when Bangladeshi and Yemeni newcomers overtook the population in the 1990s. Today, the two-square-mile town stands as the country's first Muslim-majority city and holds the distinction of having the nation's only all-Muslim city council.

Troubling details emerged from a 2025 lawsuit filed by Adamczyk. He alleged that Altaheri watched his own wife get abused yet told him to stay quiet simply because he held the title of chief of police. Adamczyk said the victim made comments about getting hit and punched. When confronted, Altaheri allegedly snapped back with the words, 'You guys here in Michigan don't handle things the correct way; you guys make everything formal.' The legal documents also describe a disturbing incident during a couples cruise trip involving Altaheri and his significant other. She found proof on his phone of an affair with a local elementary school principal, sparking a heated fight where she reported being physically assaulted. Her side of the story claimed the argument turned violent and that he ripped off one of her fingernails.

Beyond the courtroom drama, Altaheri shared photos on Facebook congratulating Donald Trump and JD Vance on their victory. His former colleagues pointed to multiple troubling instances in a 2025 lawsuit filed against him. The allegations paint a picture of deep friction within the department just as it tried to diversify its ranks.

Special investigator David Adamczyk filed charges against Police Chief Altaheri, asserting that the chief never faced criminal accusations and has since rejected all claims made against him. The lawsuit details disturbing allegations, including recordings of conversations where Altaheri allegedly admitted to punching a woman in her stomach and hitting her with a shower curtain. His partner reportedly told Adamczyk that the chief locked her inside their home for long stretches, preventing her from caring for their two-year-old child.

Altaheri flatly denied these claims. He explained to the Daily Mail that emergency calls involving his residence stemmed from his dog going missing or issues concerning other tenants. Despite this defense, an internal probe into city leadership validated several of Adamczyk's other accusations, though none pertained to domestic violence against Altaheri. The investigation revealed that after Mayor Garbarino placed Altaheri on administrative leave, the chief allegedly ordered an evidence technician to wipe data from his phone.

Further misconduct surfaced regarding a night at a strip club where Altaheri was accused of driving drunk in a city vehicle alongside other officers. Third-party investigators gathered witnesses who supported this account and found video proof of erratic driving and siren lights used to run red lights. The report alleged that an officer obtained this footage and blackmailed the chief into keeping his job after discovering timecard fraud. Former City Manager Max Garbarino filed the lawsuit following his own firing for placing Altaheri on leave, while Adamczyk was let go from the force for similar alleged timecard fraud.

The investigation also found that at least five 911 calls were reported to his residence by the mother of his young son. On September 19, 2024, officers responded after a woman called and hung up; she claimed an injured foot. Officers treated it as medical, yet Altaheri suggested investigating her for drug use instead. The probe concluded that Altaheri told an officer to write the report vaguely to help him build his custody case. The final document described the woman's eyes as "glossy, bloodshot, and . . . not to react to light," omitting any mention of Altaheri's presence at the scene.

The lawsuit also alleged that Altaheri punched a man in the head at a hookah lounge in Dearborn. However, the report did not substantiate claims of domestic violence or that he misused his authority to cover up abuse. Additionally, allegations suggest Altaheri connected with Mark Zarkin, a Michigan restaurateur and Trump ally, to solicit a presidential pardon for an unnamed friend. Reuters reported last November that Bill Pulte appointed Zarkin as a mortgage consultant under the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Zarkin pleaded no contest to a felony sex crime involving an encounter with a 'mentally incapacitated woman,' though his conviction was later vacated. He denied the appointment and told Reuters he has no criminal history. The lawsuit claims Altaheri said Zarkin would pay Trump between $1 and $5 million for the pardon, while Altaheri would earn at least $10,000. Adamczyk alleged that Altaheri traveled with Zarkin to Mar-a-Lago to meet high-profile millionaires about this deal. Lauren Bis, a White House spokeswoman, rejected these accusations in a statement to the Daily Mail: "Pardons are NOT for sale.

President Trump carries out his constitutional duties with ethical integrity. The administration claims to have a strong pardon review process. This group includes White House counsel, the Department of Justice, Alice Johnson, and finally the President himself. He serves as the final decider on all matters.

An independent investigation did not confirm or clear the specific allegations. Investigators found at least two city identification cards for Zarkin. They could not explain why these existed. The team noted they did not appear to violate protocol.

Garbarino placed Altaheri on administrative leave after the lawsuit allegations emerged. The city council voted unanimously to fire him instead of letting him return. Adamczyk was found recording other officers and abusing overtime rules during that internal probe. Neither accuser currently holds their job.

The lawsuit accused Altaheri of conspiring with restaurateur Mark Zarkin. They allegedly sought a presidential pardon for an unnamed friend. Zarkin is a prominent ally in Detroit politics. He was previously tapped as a consultant to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Garbarino faced similar scrutiny but the investigation did not substantiate claims against him. However, it noted he exercised significant poor judgment in his role. No criminal charges have been brought against Altaheri. The civil lawsuit is still ongoing. He has denied all accusations and maintains his innocence.

Mayor Amer Ghalib praised Altaheri after firing him. Ghalib later said on Facebook that the officer's journey had just started. Nobody could stop it according to those comments. Ghalib left his position after Trump nominated him as US ambassador to Kuwait. He was never confirmed for the role.

Altaheri set his sights on New York City after the Michigan controversy. The Wayne County court docket shows a motion to adjourn filed in August. Parties are scheduled to meet for a settlement conference in November. Altaheri had previously served as a commanding officer at a precinct in Queens. He crossed paths with Mamdani when he was an assemblyman there.

The mayor's office told the Times it had not offered him a position with the NYPD. They claimed to be unaware of his discussions with New York City Health and Hospitals. Altaheri told the Times he resigned abruptly after one day. He was asked about the investigation notes during that time. Of course they knew about the investigation, he said. You can Google my name and it all comes up.

He got annoyed when they asked him about it. Maybe that is a sign, according to his own words. Altaheri told the Daily Mail he was offered the job but it did not come to fruition. He claimed hiring a Muslim would lead to false narratives regarding their relationship with the mayor. A month after resigning in Hamtramck, he told Fox 2 Detroit about the offer from the then-mayor-elect.

Altaheri now runs a consulting company and serves as an executive manager. The controversy has shaped his career path significantly. Communities must reflect on how such legal battles affect public trust. Government directives regarding investigations impact every citizen involved.

He told the Daily Mail he does not intend to run for any public office. He showed up on a Yemeni television station last June to talk about his role with the Yemen United Club. Reporters from the Daily Mail have contacted Altaheri's legal team, Mamdani's administration, everyone tied to the lawsuit, Hamtramck police officers, city leaders, and New York Health and Hospitals for their responses. The publication also tried to reach Zarkin directly.