Federal authorities investigating City Hall insiders are focusing on a Florida technology company called Saferwatch. This company hired the brother of two top officials of Mayor Eric Adams, whose homes and electronic devices were searched recently. The investigation comes after reports that Saferwatch tried to influence Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks and Schools Chancellor David Banks to use its emergency alert app in New York City public schools. Terence Banks claimed Saferwatch was a client of his government relations firm. The Daily News reported that the FBI seized the electronic devices of at least one Saferwatch employee. However, Saferwatch’s spokesperson Hank Sheinkopf stated that they are not the target of any investigation. Saferwatch works with law enforcement agencies, schools, and businesses across the country.
Saferwatch, based in Boca Raton, began pushing to get their “panic button” app into city schools in 2022. They hired lobbyist Corey Johnson, a former City Council speaker, who met with Deputy Mayor Banks and Schools Chancellor David Banks to present their product. Saferwatch then hired a government relations firm, the Pearl Alliance, run by Terence Banks. Records show that Philip Banks took action on the tech company’s pitch after Johnson presented the “panic button” to him. Banks then met with the head of the NYPD’s school safety unit, Kevin Taylor, a few days later. Taylor later revealed that the unit was testing the “panic button” in five schools, including prestigious Stuyvesant High School and Bronx High School of Science.
Philip Banks’ attorney, Benjamin Brafman, declined to answer questions about his client’s communications with Terence or David Banks or Taylor regarding Saferwatch. Chancellor David Banks also declined to discuss interactions with his brothers about Saferwatch. The FBI confiscated his and his fiance’s cell phones during a visit to their townhouse. Saferwatch’s interactions with the Banks brothers are part of investigations targeting the Adams administration. The company’s attempts to secure city business began in Adams’ first year in office.
After the pilot program with Saferwatch did not expand as hoped, the company stopped employing Johnson as a lobbyist. They then hired the Pearl Alliance, run by Terence Banks. The company is now under scrutiny by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. Several other top aides to the mayor were visited by the FBI last week, including Police Commissioner Edward Caban, who resigned. Despite this, Mayor Adams has stated that David Banks and Philip Banks will continue their roles in his administration.