NEW YORK — The nephew of senior mayoral adviser Timothy Pearson was transferred to the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau after less than two years on the job and promoted to detective six months ago — all while making just two arrests in his four years on the job, department records show.

Despite the record of one felony arrest and one misdemeanor arrest, Larry Pearson Jr., 30, was transferred to Internal Affairs, the anti-corruption arm of the NYPD, on a promotional track in September 2022 and was promoted to Detective 3rd Grade in April after joining the NYPD in November 2020, the records show.

Timothy Pearson, a retired NYPD inspector, has been one of the mayor’s closest confidants. Larry Jr.’s father, Larry Pearson Sr., is a retired NYPD lieutenant and Tim’s brother.

Tim Pearson, who submitted a resignation letter to Adams late Monday, was one of five top Adams administration officials who had their phones seized by FBI agents on Sept. 4. A subpoena issued to Asylum Seeker Operations Director Molly Schaeffer demanded communications with Pearson, who was heavily involved in the procurement process involving migrant contracts, his public schedules show.

Four lawsuits filed earlier this year by three retired cops and an NYPD chief allege Pearson sexually harassed a female sergeant in a special mayoral unit and used his influence in the NYPD to retaliate against them. Among the allegations in those lawsuits is that Pearson wielded outsized power over NYPD promotions.

Adams, who was indicted on Thursday on bribery charges and pleaded not guilty on Friday, steadfastly defended Pearson in the face of heavy public scrutiny ahead of his resignation, though he recently removed his authority over migrant service contracts.

How Pearson’s nephew moved so rapidly through the ranks is unclear, and there is no evidence Tim Pearson played a role. But Pearson did not disclose the familial relationship on annual disclosure forms for 2022 and 2023 required of public officials. When asked if he had any relatives working for city government, he answered no each time.

“Every employee is expected to accurately fill out their disclosure forms. If anyone needs to amend their form in some way, they have the opportunity to do so,” said Amaris Cockfield, a mayoral spokeswoman.

Hugh Mo, the lawyer handling matters around the federal investigation for Pearson, said Pearson did disclose the relationship on a separate report filed with the city Department of Investigation.

DOI background reports, unlike the financial disclosure forms compiled by the COIB, are not made public.

“Based on the discrepancy, we submit Tim Pearson’s failure to disclose the familial relationship on his Conflict of Interest disclosures appears to be an oversight and an error,” Mo wrote in an email.

On the question of whether Tim Pearson should have also disclosed to COIB he had at least one relative working in city government, Carolyn Miller, executive director of the Conflicts of Interest Board, declined to comment on Pearson’s disclosure filings.

In general, she said, a relative for the purpose of the disclosure form is a “spouse, domestic partner, child, stepchild, brother, sister, parent, or stepparent of the person reporting.” The legal definition can also include a person listed as a dependent on their most recent tax return.

But the COIB also states the purpose of the disclosure law is to “provide transparency … and to ensure there are no prohibited conflicts of interest between public servants’ official duties and their private interests.”

Mo went on to say that Larry Pearson’s rise to detective in Internal Affairs is because of his father – Tim Pearson’s brother – retired NYPD Lt. Larry Pearson Sr. Larry Pearson Sr., Mo said, works for a private security firm in 315 Hudson St., the same building that houses the Internal Affairs Bureau’s offices.

“(It was) Larry Pearson Sr.’s recommendation to IAB for his son’s transfer,” Mo said. “Larry Pearson Jr. has been a member of the department for about four years, and after serving in IAB for 18-months as an investigator, he was duly promoted to the rank of detective as a matter of NYPD policy.”

Multiple police sources familiar with the process told The News Larry Pearson Jr.’s career trajectory is unusual and raises questions about whether his family ties played a role. The NYPD did not respond to questions from The News.

While the path into Internal Affairs is discretionary, it’s supposed to be competitive – officers apply, their records are reviewed and the officer best suited for the role is selected, they said.

“The only time you see that is if the cop was in a shooting and they want to reward him, or if he knows someone,” a police source said. “To get to IAB with two years on? With one arrest? Give me a break.”

Larry Pearson did not immediately reply to requests for comment. His union, the Detectives Endowment Association, declined comment.

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