The New York Police Department’s first Black woman police commissioner, Keechant Sewell, has decided to step down after only 18 months. Sewell made the official announcement in an email to the members of the NYPD but didn’t give a reason behind her resignation.
“While my time here will come to a close, I will never step away from advocacy and support for the NYPD, and I will always be a champion for the people of New York City,” Sewell wrote.
Mayor Eric Adams appointed Sewell to the position in 2022. According to the Associate Press, there was tension leading up to her resignation. Sewell shied from New York’s spotlight, rarely making herself available to press even though Adams pegged crime-fighting as a centerpiece of his administration. There was also speculation that Sewell wasn’t entirely in control of the department. According to the AP it stemmed from Adam’s decision to appoint Phillip Banks as a deputy mayor of public safety. Banks held weekly public safety briefings on crime often without Sewell in attendance.
Mayor Adams confirmed Sewell’s resignation and thanked her for her “steadfast leadership.” Adams said Sewell deserved credit for work on combatting crime. During her brief time with the NYPD, she oversaw a decrease in overall crime. In her first month on the job, Sewell dealt with high-profile incidents, including the fatal shooting of two officers.
“The commissioner worked nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a year and a half, and we are all grateful for her service. New Yorkers owe her a debt of gratitude,” Adams said.
Keechant Sewell’s Work In Law Enforcement
Sewell started as a patrol officer for the Nassau County Police Department in 1997. She held multiple positions within the department including precinct commander, head of significant cases, top negotiator, and finally, chief of detectives. As chief of detectives, Sewell oversaw 350 employees.