Former Boston police superintendent sues department, says he was demoted for uncovering fraud

Local News

The police department’s deputy superintendent allegedly uncovered hundreds of department-wide paid detail fraud violations.

By Darin Zullo

January 18, 2026 | 9:48 AM

2 minutes to read

A former Boston Police Department superintendent is suing the department and Police Commissioner Michael Cox, claiming he was illegally demoted after he allegedly uncovered nearly 700 department violations.

Deputy Superintendent Marcus Eddings has further accused the department of violating the Massachusetts Whistleblower Act, according to a lawsuit filed Jan. 12 in Suffolk County Superior Court.

A BPD employee since 1996, Eddings was promoted to the high-ranking role of superintendent in 2019 before he was demoted to his previously held title of deputy superintendent in 2024.

As superintendent, Eddings oversaw the department’s paid details and court overtime programs to eliminate fraud, according to a civil complaint. During an investigation, he allegedly uncovered that 43 officers had been involved in a total of 693 paid detail fraud violations.

Eddings determined that 46 violations involving 20 officers were referred to the department’s Anti-Corruption Division, and 647 violations involving 25 officers were referred to the Internal Affairs Division. Many of these discovered violations were supported by video documentation, the complaint states.

When Eddings brought his findings to his superiors, Cox allegedly told him that pursuing the investigations would “cause another ‘black eye’ for the Department” and damage his legacy as commissioner, according to the lawsuit. Another department official allegedly told Eddings that it would be unrealistic to fire so many officers.

Eddings continued to report and investigate the fraud, uncovering additional violations in the process. As a result, the lawsuit alleges, he was “stripped of several positions” and demoted Jan. 20, 2024, to the role of deputy superintendent.

By demoting him, Cox and the department allegedly punished Eddings as retaliation for whistleblowing activities, according to the complaint. In addition to any damages, Eddings is seeking to recoup his role as superintendent.

Prior to his role as deputy superintendent, Eddings worked in the department’s drug control unit, internal affairs division, homicide unit, and youth violence strike force. In 2006, he became a sergeant, and in 2007, he was further promoted to the role of sergeant detective.

Mariellen Burns, a department spokesperson, said in a statement obtained by The Boston Globe that Cox has “sole authority” to appoint command staff.

“Historically, the commissioner has removed members of the command staff and replaced them immediately or over time,” Burns said in the statement. “Such decisions are made by the commissioner based on the needs of the department and the ability of people to meet those needs.”

Though she didn’t comment on the lawsuit’s specifics, she noted that the department “investigates all allegations of misconduct.”

“There is a well-established process for investigating internal and external allegations,” Burns said. “This would include allegations of the abuse of time or details referenced in the lawsuit. Any suggestion otherwise is untrue.”