NYPD Sergeant Suspended After Shoplifting Charges in Long Island

Valley Stream, NY – An NYPD sergeant earning over $200,000 annually was arrested for allegedly shoplifting cough medicine on Long Island, authorities said.

Sgt. Rayna Madho, 41, a commander in the NYPD’s detective squad and a resident of Queens, was charged with two counts of petty larceny for incidents at a Target store on Sunrise Highway in Valley Stream, Nassau County police confirmed. She shoplifted Zarbee’s Cough Syrup ($9.99) and Ricola Cough Drops ($4.99) on two separate occasions, Nov. 24 and Dec. 7.

According to NYPD records, Madho was suspended without pay following her arrest on Saturday evening. She was issued a desk appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 27.

Madho, who has served with the NYPD since 2006, holds a key role in the Special Investigations Unit photographic squad, where she oversees photo arrays for detectives and manages official identification card production. Records show she earned $201,625 in the last fiscal year, which included $126,211 in base pay, $54,939 in overtime for 555 hours, and $20,475 in additional compensation.

A prominent figure in the department, Madho is also vice president of the Desi Society, a fraternal organization representing South Asian NYPD officers.

Her career, however, has been subject to controversy. Public records indicate Madho has been named in five civil lawsuits, collectively settling for $161,000. One notable case alleged she planted evidence during a 2015 traffic arrest, though the lawsuit was settled for $7,500.

Promoted to detective squad commander in 2021, Madho has worked in detective squads across Brooklyn and Manhattan. Born in Trinidad, she immigrated to the U.S. at age 12 and graduated from York College.

The NYPD declined to comment on the matter beyond confirming Madho’s suspension.

The case adds to ongoing scrutiny of NYPD officers’ conduct, highlighting the challenges of maintaining public trust amidst misconduct allegations.

By Bryan Simmons, Senior Reporter, The Midtown Times
Updated 11:40 AM EST, Fri December 13, 2024

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