Juanita Holmes Becomes NYPD’s First Woman Chief Of Patrol

NEW YORK CITY — A reshuffling of NYPD’s top brass puts a Black woman in charge of more officers than any other police department in the country.

Juanita Holmes will become first woman Chief of Patrol in the department’s history, Commissioner Dermot Shea announced Thursday.

Holmes, already the department’s highest-ranking African-American woman officer, pledged to carry on the principles of “equality, fairness and transparency” she has observed as chief of collaborative policing.

“As chief of patrol, this is how I will lead every day,” she said.

The promotion takes effect Friday and fills a top hole in the department left by former Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo’s recent — and abrupt — retirement.

But Holmes’ historic new role wasn’t the only shakeup Shea announced Thursday that adds to diversity among NYPD’s top brass.

He announced three women will take new leadership positions in the department.

Kim Royster, who is also Black, will become the next chief of transportation. Olufunmilola Obe, who is Black as well, is the department’s new chief of school safety division.

Kathleen O’Reilly will take over as Chief of Transit from Edward Delatorre, who will move to chief of labor relations.

Philip Rivera will become the chief of patrol borough Manhattan north.

Mayor Bill de Blasio praised the promotions as moves that make NYPD’s leadership reflect the city’s diversity. He said officers like Holmes will help the police force move further toward working with the people and communities they serve.

“You are being called to leadership at a particularly important time,” he told Holmes.