NYPD Makes History, Naming Woman Top Chief

By KENDRA MARTINEZ

New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea on Thursday announced the appointment  of Juanita Holmes as Chief of Patrol, the first woman to hold the highest office in the New York City Police Department’s uniformed ranks.

Holmes is also African-American, another notable fact at a time when departments across the nation are under fire after accusations of police violence in black communities leading to demands for police reforms.

Holmes, 56, and a police officer for 30 years, replaces  Fausto Pichardo, who abruptly retired recently after reports of conflicts with Mayor Bill de Blasio whom the outgoing chief allegedly accused of disrespecting him.

The historic appointment, which had been rumored since Pichardo’s departure, was made public at the mayor’s daily press briefing.

“She understands this city, the importance of neighborhood policing and she also understands the importance of keeping people safe,” said Shea, adding that she fit the bill of his goal of having a leadership that represents the city.

Chief Holmes served previously as precinct commander, a police service commander, and a borough commander. “Equality, fairness and transparency has always been at the very heart of everything I do,” she said.

The announcement was made just two days after looting and protests erupted in Brooklyn.

The briefing highlighted several other new department assignments, including chiefs of labor relations, transportation, transit, Manhattan North patrol, and school safety, three of whom were women.

Chief Holmes’ new position was announced along with several other positions reassigned in the department including New Chief of Labor Relations, Chief
of Transportation, Chief of Transit, Chief of Patrol Borough Manhattan North, and Chief of School Safety Division, three of which are women.

“You are called to leadership at a particularly important time, but that is a time also where so many great things
can happen, in a transformative moment,” said de Blasio.

Chief Holmes stressed the importance of restoring faith and trust in the department and to boost morale in the ranks. She also rebranded the discredited practice of stop and frisk as “stope and question.”

She said she hoped to strengthen relationships with the community.

“I have nothing but positive hope moving forward in this position that we can do this,” she said.

Holmes was expected to start the job on Friday.