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Keechant Sewell

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Keechant Sewell
Commissioner Sewell in 2022
45th New York City Police Commissioner
In office
January 1, 2022[1] – June 30, 2023
Appointed byEric Adams
Preceded byDermot Shea
Succeeded byEdward Caban
Chief of Detectives of the
Nassau County Police Department
In office
September 24, 2020 – December 31, 2021
CommissionerPatrick Ryder
Succeeded byChristopher Ferro
Personal details
Born (1972-04-02) April 2, 1972 (age 52)
New York City, U.S.[2]

Keechant L. Sewell (born April 2, 1972) is an American baseball executive and former police officer and administrator. Sewell is currently the New York Mets Senior Vice President of Security and Guest Experience.[3] She previously served as the 45th New York City Police Commissioner, the first woman and third black person to serve in the position.[4] On June 12, 2023, Sewell announced that she was stepping down as commissioner. No reason was given for her departure.[5]

Early life

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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.[6]

Career

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Nassau County Police Department

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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[7] and then, by 2016, commanding officer of the major case squad.[8] In 2008 Sewell had attended the FBI National Academy,[9][10] 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.[11][12][13]

Sewell was also a member of the New York–New Jersey Joint-Terrorism Task Force.[14]

New York City Police Commissioner

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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,[15][16] and its third black commissioner.[17] She oversaw 35,000 uniformed officers and 18,000 civilians.[18][19][20] 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.[4] Sewell was criticized for publicly accepting the appointment in front of a mural of Assata Shakur, convicted of killing a police officer.[21]

Sometime during late May 2023, the Police Commissioner and other members of the Adams administration devised a plan using a web portal to seek the public's input on solving cold cases where members of the LGBTQ+ population, especially cis-gender gay men, were victimized.[22]

On June 12, 2023, Sewell resigned as Commissioner of the NYPD.[23] While no official reason was given for her resignation, The New York Times reported that she felt frustrated and undermined by City Hall, noting that the Adams administration required its approval for police promotions and handpicked the first deputy commissioner and chief of department.[24]

Adams in a statement said, "I want to thank Police Commissioner Sewell for her devotion over the last 18 months and her steadfast leadership. Her efforts played a leading role in this administration's tireless work to make New York City safer. When we came into office, crime was trending upwards, and thanks to the brave men and women of the NYPD, most of the major crime categories are now down. The commissioner worked nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a year and a half, and we are all grateful for her service. New Yorkers owe her a debt of gratitude."[25]

PBA President Pat Lynch stated that Sewell, "took over a police department in crisis and faced tremendous challenges from day one. She cared about the cops on the street and was always open to working with us to improve their lives and working conditions. There are still enormous challenges facing the NYPD. Her leadership will be sorely missed."[26]

Sewell was replaced by Edward Caban, who was hand-picked by Mayor Adams to be the first deputy commissioner under Sewell.[27]

Personal life

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At the time of her appointment as New York City Police Commissioner, Sewell was residing in Valley Stream, New York.[28][29]

References

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  1. ^ Fitzsimmons, Emma (December 14, 2021). "Keechant Sewell to Become First Woman and African-American Woman to Lead N.Y.P.D." The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ Meko, Hurubie (November 2, 2023). "Mets Hire the Former N.Y.P.D Commissioner Keechant Sewell". The New York Times. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Kwan, Rhoda (January 1, 2021). "Keechant Sewell sworn in as NYPD's first female police commissioner". NBC News. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Chelsia Rose Marcius, Maria Cramer (June 12, 2023). "N.Y.P.D. Commissioner Keechant Sewell to Resign". The New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Fitzsimmons, Emma (December 14, 2021). "Keechant Sewell to Become First Woman to Lead N.Y.P.D." The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  7. ^ "About SMCCA". December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  8. ^ "Ronald Bishop of Hempstead arrested on weapons, drug charges". www.newsday.com. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  9. ^ "New York's Next Police Boss, a Queens Native, Comes 'Full Circle'". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  10. ^ "'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.
  11. ^ "Nassau PD promotes 22-year veteran as chief of detectives". longisland.news12.com. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  12. ^ "NCPD promotes first Black woman as chief of detectives". www.newsday.com. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Craig McCarthy, Julia Marsh (December 14, 2021). "Eric Adams picks Keechant Sewell as the first female police commissioner of the NYPD". New York Post. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  15. ^ "Keechant Sewell Expected To Be Appointed Next NYPD Commissioner: Sources". NBC New York. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  16. ^ "Keechant Sewell to be named NYC's first woman police commissioner". NY1.com. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  17. ^ "Nassau County chief to take over as NYPD commissioner, police sources say". pix11.com. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  18. ^ Frehse, Rob (December 14, 2021). "Keechant Sewell will be NYC's first female police commissioner". CNN. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  19. ^ Oshin, Olafimihan (December 14, 2021). "Incoming NYC mayor to appoint city's first female police". The Hill. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  20. ^ "Keechant Sewell To Be Named Next NYC Police Commissioner". CBS News. December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  21. ^ Miller, Andrew (December 15, 2021). "Eric Adams' new NYPD commissioner appointed in front of a mural of radicals and a cop killer". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  22. ^ Tracy, Matt (June 8, 2023). "City invites New Yorkers to submit requests to re-evaluate LGBTQIA+ cold cases". gaycitynews.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  23. ^ "Who could replace NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell?". ABC7 New York. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  24. ^ Cramer, Maria; Marcius, Chelsia Rose (2023-06-17). "What a Commissioner's Abrupt Exit Says About the N.Y.P.D. Under Adams". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  25. ^ "Politics interfere with public safety efforts as police chiefs leave big city police departments". ABC7 Amarillo. June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  26. ^ "NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell stepping down". Spectrum News. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  27. ^ Cramer, Maria; Zraick, Karen (17 July 2023). "Edward Caban Becomes First Latino Police Commissioner in New York". New York Times.
  28. ^ "NYPD's First Woman Commissioner Faces Applause And Skepticism". gothamist.com. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  29. ^ Craig McCarthy, Julia Marsh (December 15, 2019). "Eric Adams picks Keechant Sewell as the first female police commissioner of the NYPD". New York Post. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
Police appointments
Preceded by New York City Police Commissioner
January 1, 2022–June 30, 2023 		Succeeded by
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