Port Authority Welcomes First Female Captain Of Hispanic Heritage

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For two decades, a stuffed puppy has followed Priscilla Sanchez everywhere she’s gone. She’s had it since she was 10, a much beloved gift from her brother just prior to his deployment to Iraq: “I held onto that puppy every night.”

It was a source of comfort during his absence, and grew to symbolize even more.

“I looked at it and saw a reminder of his sacrifice, his service to something greater than himself,” she said. “I knew I wanted to follow the same path.”

The puppy’s connection across generations has grown. It’s now her children’s turn to clutch Bingo the stuffed puppy as they watch Sanchez put on her own uniform, that of the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD). Sanchez recently became PAPD’s first female captain of Hispanic heritage, just days before welcoming her third son.

"I want women in law enforcement to see my success as their own, as we are strongest when we support one another in our shared battles,” Sanchez said. “In a male-dominated field, it often takes twice the effort for us to keep pace, but by opening doors for one another, we can create a more equitable future."

Growing up in Passaic, N.J., Sanchez watched her mother come home with blisters from a demanding factory job. That fierce work ethic motivated her to become the first in her family to attend college, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in public administration.

Sanchez’s law enforcement career is full of other firsts. It began in 2014 with a temporary assignment to the Port Authority’s three Staten Island bridges, quickly transitioning to a permanent role at the Holland Tunnel. She served in the Special Services unit and became part of the first cohort of female officers in the Honor Guard unit. Sanchez was one of just four female officers from PAPD deployed to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, receiving the Hurricane Maria Recovery Breast Bar for her service there.

Following her promotion to sergeant in December 2020, Sanchez became the first and only female to oversee the Special Services Unit at police headquarters, taking on the challenges of coordinating the department’s ceremonies, collecting crime statistics, and managing executive protection details for the agency.

In January 2023, she was promoted to lieutenant. Now, as captain, she manages operations at the site of her first assignment: the agency’s Bayonne, Goethals, and Outerbridge crossings on Staten Island. Her responsibilities include supervising daily police functions and training staff, while coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies for effective communication and public safety.

Sanchez keeps her heritage and community top of mind. She teaches her sons Spanish, passed down from her childhood visits to the Dominican Republic to see her dad. She served as president of the PAPD Women’s Law Enforcement Association (WLEA), a group dedicated to enhancing the morale and unity of female officers. During her leadership, the group organized an annual drive for mothers in need to collect toys, clothes, and other baby supplies, while an annual scholarship awards $1,000 to a female high school senior aspiring to be a criminal investigator.

PAPD Chief Gloria Frank, who has led efforts around diversifying the force, called Sanchez’s appointment “a historic milestone that embodies our values of diversity and inclusion. As a champion for women in law enforcement, her leadership inspires us all and highlights our commitment to empowering individuals from every background.”

Port Authority Police Superintendent Edward Cetnar noted that Sanchez’s promotion to captain “symbolizes our department's progress and the power of diversity. Her relentless drive and exemplary work ethic break barriers, inspiring future generations and demonstrating that talent knows no bounds."

When Sanchez sees her sons with Bingo, she still sees the comfort and inspiration that the stuffed puppy provided in uncertain times. Now, her brother is the one looking on with admiration.

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