NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced that she is stepping down on Monday, a decision that shocked many within the nation’s largest police department:
“Since I joined you almost a year and a half ago we have faced tremendous tragedy, challenges and triumphs together. I have witnessed your compassion, heroics and selflessness on a daily basis. They have reaffirmed to me, what people around the globe have always known: you are an extraordinary collective of hard working public servants dedicated to the safety of this city, engaging our communities and sharing what we know with our partners for the benefit of the world. You and your predecessors are the reason that the NYPD is known as the gold standard in law enforcement. I have had the absolute honor to spend time with our line of duty families. Their loss is immeasurable; their strength is incredible. I thank them for allowing me the privilege to know them and hear the stories of our fallen heroes.”
The move came after Sewell met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams at City Hall on Monday afternoon. Adams released a statement following the announcement.
“I want to thank Police Commissioner Sewell for her devotion over the last 18 months and her steadfast leadership,” Adams said. “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.”
The mayor was said to be surprised by the news. However, for months, tension has been brewing, and it surfaced in public last November when Sewell gave a speech to fellow policewomen.
“Understand you will be second guessed, told what you should say, told what you should write, by some with half your experience,” Sewell said at the banquet. “You will get free, unsolicited personal advice. Your hairstyle is wrong, you look tired, already worn out in less than a year.’
Sewell’s resignation comes about a year and a half after she became the first woman to lead the NYPD when she was sworn in on January 1, 2022. Sewell’s first month in office saw five NYPD officers shot, a tremendous challenge indeed. Since then, however, she’s overseen a decline in several crime categories. As of June 11th, crime was up this year by only .92%. Meanwhile, murders were down 12.5%, rape was down 9.5%, transit crime was down 7.9%, and shootings were down 25%.
She’s gotten some praise for how she handled her term. But still, sources cited increasing tension with City Hall, which 30-year NYPD veteran Mike Alcazar said is par for the course.
“I’ve seen this happen with police commissioners where the mayor really runs the show,” he said. “We saw this with de Blasio. With summer coming, historically crime is going to spike and if she can’t do her job, she’s just going to step down.”
