NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Newly-installed NYPD commissioner Dermot Shea on Wednesday named chief of patrol Rodney Harrison to lead the force's detectives squad as chief of detectives -- the first black man to ever do so.
Shea, who assumed his new position on Dec. 1, also named Fausto Pichardo (pictured, below), executive officer in the Patrol Services Bureau, to replace Harrison as chief of patrol. Pichardo is of Dominican heritage.
“Rodney and Fausto bring tremendous leadership experience to their new positions, having served in critical executive roles, and leveraging Neighborhood Policing and precision policing to bring crime down to levels not seen since the 1950’s,” said Shea. “However, our work is far from done, and with Rodney’s investigative experience and Fausto’s role in bringing Neighborhood Policing to fruition, we will continue to work closely with the people we are sworn to serve to make New York City even safer.”
Harrison said in a statement, “Serving as Chief of Patrol has been a tremendous privilege. Through Neighborhood Policing, we have transformed how the NYPD works with community members, grounded in building strong relationships of mutual respect, toward our shared mission of safety. Now, I’m humbled to become Chief of Detectives, a position I’ve always strived for, and will work tirelessly to build the strongest possible cases and bring those that commit crimes to justice."
Pichardo said, “Since I came on the job in 1999, I wake up each day working to make the streets of New York City safer for police officers and the people we take the sacred oath and are sworn to serve. I’m grateful for this opportunity to continue supporting the thousands of patrol officers who, through Neighborhood Policing, both work to prevent crime from ever happening while also getting to the root of New Yorkers problems, solving them, and keeping people safe.”
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