Keechant Sewell is a 23-year veteran of the Nassau Police Department in Long Island, where she became Chief of Detectives in September 2020. Sewell, originally from the New York borough of Queens, previously served in New York’s Nassau County narcotics and major case units and as a hostage negotiator. When she will take over the department in January 2022, Sewell will also become the third black commissioner to take the helm of NYPD.
Speaking to media on Wednesday morning, December 15th, Mr Adams – a former NYPD captain – said that women often are “sitting on the bench” and “never allowed to get in the game” when it comes to policing. “That is stopping today,” he added.
Sewell taking on the position as the first female Police Chief, said, “I bring a different perspective to make sure the department looks like the city it serves and making the decision, just as Mayor Adams did, to elevate women and people of colour to leadership positions.” She added that as commissioner, she plans to be ‘laser focused’ on violent crimes, particularly gun crimes.
