This former NYPD chief caps career at Citi Field

She stepped up to the plate as the head of the nation’s largest police department. Now, former New York Police Department Commissioner Keechant Sewell will bring her years of police leadership experience and public safety know-how to a new job and a whole new ball game. Sewell has been appointed as Senior Vice President, Security, and Guest Experience for the New York Mets — a position created just for her.

The Valley Stream resident, working under Met’s Executive Vice President of Ballpark Operations and Experience Katie Haas, will manage the safety and fan experience of the organization effective November 27.

For Sewell, it’s a surreal new chapter in her career.

“The opportunity to bring my passions of community building and public safety to the Mets is truly a dream job,” she said in a statement. “As someone who grew up in Queens, this legendary organization is vital to local communities and so many across the world. I can’t wait to help be a part of building this world-class fan experience.”

This will be Sewell’s first foray into private-sector work following a lifelong and celebrated career in law enforcement. She served as the chief of detectives in the Nassau County Police Department and watched over Long Island streets for 22 years before making history as the first woman and third Black person to lead the NYPD. Expectations were high for Sewell who inherited a tensely divided city “where crime was up, public distrust of law enforcement was high, and department morale was low,” according to public advocate Jumaane Williams.

As the 45th Commissioner, she was praised for making inroads into reducing the rates of the city’s major crimes like murders and shootings and reforming languishing features of the department. She placed a high premium on emotional solidarity with officers and the public. She negotiated for raises and more flexible working hours and added dozens of detectives to an understaffed sex crimes unit.

But to the surprise of many, she abruptly stepped down from her post in June after a less than 18-month tenure. Despite her relatively positive job performance, high-ranking observers speculate that Mayor Eric Adams’ heavy-handed management had driven Sewell’s decision to walk away. She was replaced by Edward Caban in July.

Nevertheless, Sewell’s new bosses are more than confident she is poised to be a unique asset “in strengthening our relationships with the community and all law enforcement and emergency services agencies.”

“Keechant’s expertise in public service, law enforcement, and community engagement positions us to elevate our approach to safety and the guest experience at Citi Field,” said Haas.