Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner William Bratton announced Wednesday that Benjamin Tucker will become the city’s next First Deputy Commissioner.
He was officially sworn in at a ceremony at 1 Police Plaza.
Tucker was most recently appointed to serve as the Deputy Commissioner of Training.
He first joined the police department back in 1969 and retired as a sergeant in 1991.
“This department gave me opportunities that I probably would never have had as a kid from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn,” he said.
Tucker held various executive city jobs, including with the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Nationally, he worked in the Clinton and Obama administrations. He has a law degree and a long history with the police department and the city government.
“A window of opportunity, a special moment in time for this department in this city to do the kinds of things that we know need to be done,” Tucker said.
Bratton said he is the right person at the right time.
“A graduate of John Jay College, then moving on to Fordham Law. So a New York kid all the way up,” Bratton said. “A strong legal background that we’re going to be dealing with a lot of very strong lawyers. The inspector general, the federal monitor, CCRB.”
The appointment comes after last week’s resignation of Chief Philip Banks, the NYPD’s highest-ranking uniformed officer and African-American. He turned down the first deputy position. He and Bratton couldn’t agree on the duties of the role. Friday was also the last day for the former first deputy, Rafael Pineiro.
“Those are two individuals in two important positions, but other people will now take those positions, will work closely with the community, will further the program and the approach that we have in place that’s working,” de Blasio said. “So I really don’t think we can make this about individual personalities.
Tucker said he doesn’t want people to be confused about his community ties. He said he has deep roots across the city.”
“Those folks continue to be supportive, and even more so since I’ve returned,” Tucker said. “So I just wanted to set the record straight in that regard.”
Bratton said he wants to set the record straight as well about rumors that he’s leaving police headquarters because of this controversy.
“I know it’s going to disappoint some people, but I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. I like it,” he said. “So in terms of those that are trying to push me out the door, you better start pushing harder because I’m not going.”
http://ift.tt/10qaYmd
via Great Local News: New York http://ift.tt/1iZiLP1
No comments:
Post a Comment