Ex-Adams aide Tim Pearson's nephew, an NYPD detective, placed on desk duty

NEW YORK — The nephew of former senior mayoral adviser Tim Pearson, who was promoted to detective with just two arrests in his four-year career, has been placed on desk duty, The New York Daily News has learned.

Larry Pearson Jr. was put on modified assignment by the office of Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey effective Thursday morning, NYPD records show. The reason for the move was not immediately clear.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated move the Detectives Endowment Association posted a message on its website Thursday that advised members they don’t have to speak with federal investigators without a lawyer present.

The message cited ongoing investigations into former Police Commissioner Edward Caban and his brother James Caban “and others.”

“The scope of the investigation, and precisely who the targets are, remains unclear,” the message read. “Agents have been visiting members’ homes in the early morning hours serving subpoenas and/or search warrants. Members and Delegates must understand that they have an absolute right not to speak with the Agents or answer any of their questions and that doing so could subject them to criminal exposure.”

Pearson Jr., 30, was the subject of an Oct. 1 Daily News article that pointed out that he had been assigned to Internal Affairs in less than two years in September 2022 and was promoted to Detective 3rd Grade in April despite compiling just one felony arrest and one misdemeanor arrest during his four-year career.

The NYPD did not immediately reply to an inquiry from the Daily News. A spokesman for the Detectives Endowment Association did not have immediate comment.

Larry Pearson Jr.’s father, Larry Sr., is a retired NYPD lieutenant and Tim’s brother.

Tim Pearson, one of the mayor’s closest confidants, resigned last Friday, one month after he was one of five top Adams administration officials who had to surrender his phones to federal agents involved in a wide-ranking series of influence-peddling probes.

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.

Hugh Mo, the lawyer representing Pearson in the federal investigations, said he was unaware of the move involving Pearson Jr. and declined comment.

Tim Pearson was also sued four different times earlier this year on allegations he retaliated against a female sergeant in a special mayoral unit who accused him of sexual harassment and sidelined the careers of a chief, a lieutenant and a sergeant who backed her claims.

The lawsuits alleged in part Pearson wielded significant power over NYPD promotions.

Meanwhile, NBC reported late Thursday that federal agents raided the offices of the NYPD’s School Safety Division. The move is unrelated to the personnel decision involving Tim Pearson’s nephew.