The commanding officer of the 52nd Precinct, Deputy Inspector John D’Adamo, was suddenly replaced this month, less than 17 months after taking over the job and less than a month after his wife was caught lying to Clarkstown police about being attacked on Valentine’s Day.

The 40-year-old D’Adamo — a rising star in the NYPD who took on his first commanding role as head of the 50th Precinct in 2008 at the age of 37 — will be replaced by Deputy Inspector Joseph Dowling, formerly the commanding officer of Manhattan’s 33rd Precinct, which covers Washington Heights.

Last week, Dowling introduced himself at Community Board 7’s general board meeting at Scott Tower in Bedford Park. Dowling said he spent more than five years at his last post.

A series of unfortunate events led up to D’Adamo’s departure.Last fall, reports surfaced saying D’Adamo was being investigated for possibly fixing parking tickets for family and friends. Internal Affairs was conducting a citywide probe into ticket fixing, but D’Adamo was one of the only commanders called out by name. (D’Adamo brushed off the allegations, saying he wouldn’t be surprised if someone had an ax to grind against him and hinting that his leadership style may not be going over well with the rank-and-file officers at his new precinct. D’Adamo said he was changing the culture at the Five-Two.)

In the winter, it became apparent that D’Adamo’s precinct was not immune to a citywide spike in violent crime. Murders, rapes and felony assaults rose significantly last year in the Five-Two.

On Valentine’s Day, D’Adamo’s wife told Clarkstown police she had been attacked. The NYPD was reportedly looking into whether the attack was related to allegations that D’Adamo was having an affair with another female officer. The next day, Tsui D’Adamo said she had made up the story, that the wounds were self-inflicted and also that she had slashed her husband’s tires. Later, she was taken to a hospital for mental evaluation. The city’s tabloids ate it up.

Following the incident, rumors began swirling when D’Adamo did not attend the scheduled meeting of the 52nd Precinct Council in late February, which he usually shows up for. Council members said D’Adamo missed the meeting because he was out on vacation. On March 14, Dowling took over at the Five-Two.

Council Vice President Steve Bussell wasn’t surprised about the timing of the leadership change, saying, “There was too much press on the thing.” Bussell called D’Adamo “charismatic” and said he “worked well with us, got a lot of crime solved and worked his guys very hard.”

Sirio Guerino, a Norwood resident who regularly attends Council meetings, said he hadn’t read much about D’Adamo’s troubles and praised his efforts as commander. “He did well with the little amount of men he had,” Guerino said. “He concentrated on the problems that were persistent problems, like the prostitution on Davidson [Avenue].”

The NYPD press office did not respond to questions about D’Adamo’s departure.

Last week, Dowling said he took no pleasure in taking over for a commander who left under murky circumstances. He said D’Adamo had been re-assigned to the Manhattan South division, but didn’t know what position he had assumed there.

Reached on his cell phone, D’Adamo confirmed that he was now stationed at Manhattan South, but didn’t elaborate and then said he would call back to answer further questions. He did not call back.