Black female cop is named NYPD's new Chief of Patrol and becomes highest ranking woman in the department's history - after predecessor resigned amid bitter feud with Mayor de Blasio
A black female police officer has been named the NYPD's new Chief of Patrol, making her the highest-ranking woman in the department's 175 year history.
Juanita Holmes was officially appointed to the powerful position Thursday, during a press conference held by Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.
Holmes will now be charged with overseeing more than 22,000 uniformed NYPD officers across 77 precincts.
Holmes' appointment comes at a tumultuous time for the NYPD, who are battling budget cuts, soaring rates of violent crime and widespread anti-police protests.
Speaking to the media following her appointment, Holmes pleaded for calm and pledged to help cops and communities come together.
'We have to bring those communities into our world, sit down and go back to the drawing board and get it right,' she stated.
Juanita Holmes was officially named NYPD's new Chief of Patrol on Thursday
Holmes has more than 30 years of policing experience and has 16 other family members who are members of the law enforcement community.
Her son, brother and five sisters all work for the NYPD.
In a press conference, the new Chief of Patrol described the Department as her 'family'.
Commissioner Shea praised Holmes as he spoke to the media, stating: 'I have a long history, a friendship with Juanita. I have seen her work up-close. I have seen her leadership skills. I can tell you that she has walked the walk and talks the talk.'
Commissioner Shea praised Holmes as he spoke to the media on Thursday
De Blasio purportedly pushed for Holmes to secure the plum job
According to The New York Post, Holmes is friends with Chirlane McCray - the wife of Mayor de Blasio.
De Blasio purportedly pushed for Holmes to secure the plum job.
On Thursday, the Mayor praised the cop, claiming she 'has proven over the years that she's the right person for a crucial moment in our history.'
Turning to Holmes, he stated: 'You are being called to leadership at a particularly important time, but that is a time also when so many great things can happen and a transformative moment.'
De Blasio is deeply unpopular with many members of NYPD, and the Department is, indeed, in a moment of 'transformation'.
The Mayor recently voted to slash $1 billion from the NYPD's annual budget following widespread anti-police protests which kicked off following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
Holmes replaces former Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo, 41, who resigned amid reported tension with de Blasio
Holmes certainly has her work cut out given that her appointment comes during a particularly tumultuous time for the NYPD
That decision angered many cops, who accused the Mayor of capitulating to radical-left demonstrators.
Holmes replaces former Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo, 41, who resigned amid reported tension with de Blasio.
Sources told the media that Pichardo felt de Blasio and his staff were meddling in police work and ignoring the Department's chain of command by communicating with him directly instead of through the police commissioner.
Patrick Lynch, the leader of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, said Pichardo's retirement was a result of political 'amateur-hour meddling' in the force.
He said the NYPD was 'broken, almost beyond repair'.
'Our top talent in all ranks is being driven out the door and public safety is suffering,' he said.
An anti police protest is pictured on May 29. Activists have been calling on the government to defund police departments across the country
The Mayor recently voted to slash $1 billion from the NYPD's annual budget following widespread anti-police protests. Pictured: protesters and cops clashing on May 30
An NYPD patrol car is pictured after being set alight by demonstrators on May 30
Resignations are up 87 percent this year, amid claims de Blasio and other politicians are not publicly supporting the police in a proper manner.
New York City is also experiencing a surge in violent crime following de Blasio's decision to slash the NYPD budget on July 1.
Instances of murders, shootings and other violent crime subsequently shot up over the remainder of the summer.
New data recently released by the NYPD shows that the crime spree has continued into the fall.
In September, murders were up 74 percent when compared with the same time last year, while shootings were up 127 percent.
Murders in New York City rose 79 percent last month compared to the same month last year
There were 152 shooting incidents across the city in September, compared to just 67 such incidents in the same month last year