Valley Stream resident steps down as New York Police Department chief

The nation’s largest police department held high hopes for its new Commissioner Keechant Sewell. Sewell, a Queens native and Valley Stream resident, served as the chief of detectives in the Nassau County Police Department before making history as the first woman and third Black person to lead the NYPD. But after less than 18 months into her tenure, Sewell is calling it quits, throwing the future of the department’s leadership into uncertainty. She will leave her post as the 45th NYPD commissioner by the end of the month.

Despite her brief stint, the 51-year-old law enforcement official made 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. She also installed a new chief to the Special Victims Unit.

“Commissioner Sewell was brought into an environment where crime was up, public distrust of law enforcement was high, and department morale was low. Her appointment, especially as a Black woman, was inspiring for many, but it was not a panacea,” said public advocate Jumaane Williams in a statement. “That these challenges did not immediately resolve in her tenure says more about the pervasiveness of these problems than her leadership.”

“To the people of New York City, I have always strived to bring you and your officers closer, ensuring that the services we provide exceed your expectations,” said Sewell in a statement. “While there will always be challenges, I believe we have charted a course and implemented initiatives that will have a lasting impact on that relationship.”

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. A media liaison for the commissioner refused to comment on the reason for her departure. Sewell’s successor remains unknown.