Keechant Sewell
Keechant Sewell | |
|---|---|
 Commissioner Sewell 2022 | |
| 45th New York City Police Commissioner | |
| In office January 1, 2022[1] – June 30, 2023 | |
| Appointed by | Eric Adams |
| Preceded by | Dermot Shea |
| Chief of Detectives of the Nassau County Police Department | |
| In office September 24, 2020 – December 31, 2021 | |
| Commissioner | Patrick Ryder |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Ferro |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 2, 1972 New York City, U.S.[2] |
Keechant L. Sewell (born April 2, 1972) is an American police officer and administrator who is currently serving as the 45th New York City Police Commissioner, the first woman and third black person to serve in the position.[3] On June 12, 2023, Sewell announced that she was stepping down as commissioner. No reason was given for her departure.[4]
Early life
Sewell was raised in the Queens neighborhood of Long Island City, including at the Queensbridge Houses. She later lived in the Queens neighborhoods of Corona and Jamaica.[5]
Career
Nassau County Police Department
In October 1997, Sewell became a police officer assigned to Nassau County Police Department's Fifth Precinct. Sewell was eventually promoted through the ranks to become the commanding officer of the 7th Precinct[6] and then, by 2016, commanding officer of the major case squad.[7] In 2008 Sewell had attended the FBI National Academy,[8][9] and other assignments included the Professional Standards Bureau, Internal Affairs, and training with the FBI to be the county's chief hostage negotiator. On September 24, 2020, Sewell was promoted to NCPD's chief of detectives, commanding a staff of approximately 350 officers.[10][11][12]
Sewell was also member of the New York–New Jersey Joint-Terrorism Task Force.[13]
New York City Police Commissioner
On December 14, 2021, it was announced that Sewell would be appointed as the 45th New York City police commissioner by Mayor-Elect Eric Adams. She became the first female commissioner of the New York Police Department,[14][15] and its third black commissioner.[16] She oversees 35,000 uniformed officers and 18,000 civilians.[17][18][19] On January 1, 2022, Sewell was officially sworn in as first female commissioner of the New York Police Department since it was founded 176 years beforehand. She is the highest ranking woman in NYPD history. Sometime during late May 2023, the Police Commissioner and other members of Mayor Eric Adams' administration devised a plan using a web portal to seek the public's input on solving cold cases where members of the LBGQT+ population, especially cis gender gay men, were victimized. [20]
Personal life
At the time of her appointment as New York City Police Commissioner, Sewell was residing in Valley Stream, New York.[21][22]
References
- ^ Fitzsimmons, Emma (December 14, 2021). "Keechant Sewell to Become First Woman and African-American Woman to Lead N.Y.P.D." New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ "Incoming NYPD commissioner says judges should have discretion to keep people in custody Interview she states born in Manhattan (Time 7:43)". www.NY1.com. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ Kwan, Rhoda (January 1, 2021). "Keechant Sewell sworn in as NYPD's first female police commissioner". NBC News. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ Chelsia Rose Marcius, Maria Cramer (June 12, 2023). "N.Y.P.D. Commissioner Keechant Sewell to Resign". New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ Fitzsimmons, Emma (December 14, 2021). "Keechant Sewell to Become First Woman to Lead N.Y.P.D." New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ "About SMCCA". December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ "Ronald Bishop of Hempstead arrested on weapons, drug charges". www.newsday.com. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ^ "New York's Next Police Boss, a Queens Native, Comes 'Full Circle'". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ "'My shoes are laced up, I'm ready to get to work,' incoming NYC Police Commissioner Sewell says". abc7ny.com. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ "Nassau PD promotes 22-year veteran as chief of detectives". longisland.news12.com. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
- ^ "NCPD promotes first Black woman as chief of detectives". www.newsday.com. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
- ^ Offenhartz, Jake (December 14, 2021). "Eric Adams Picks Nassau County PD Chief Keechant Sewell To Be First Female NYPD Commissioner". The Gothamist. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ Craig McCarthy, Julia Marsh (December 14, 2021). "Eric Adams picks Keechant Sewell as the first female police commissioner of the NYPD". NY Post. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ "Keechant Sewell Expected To Be Appointed Next NYPD Commissioner: Sources". NBC New York. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
- ^ "Keechant Sewell to be named NYC's first woman police commissioner". NY1.com. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
- ^ "Nassau County chief to take over as NYPD commissioner, police sources say". pix11.com. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
- ^ Frehse, Rob (December 14, 2021). "Keechant Sewell will be NYC's first female police commissioner". CNN. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ Oshin, Olafimihan (December 14, 2021). "Incoming NYC mayor to appoint city's first female police". The Hill. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ "Keechant Sewell To Be Named Next NYC Police Commissioner". CBS News. December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ https://gaycitynews.com/city-invites-new-yorkers-request-re-evaluation-lgbtq-cold-cases/
- ^ "NYPD's First Woman Commissioner Faces Applause And Skepticism". gothamist.com. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ Craig McCarthy, Julia Marsh (December 15, 2019). "Eric Adams picks Keechant Sewell as the first female police commissioner of the NYPD". NY Post. Retrieved December 21, 2021.