NYPD Chief Terence Monahan Retiring, Takes NYC Recovery Role

This story has been updated Thursday at 1:06 p.m.

NEW YORK CITY — The highest-ranking uniformed officer in the NYPD is retiring and taking a new role shaping the city’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Chief of Department Terence Monahan officially announced Thursday that he’ll end his nearly 40-year career with the department. But he won’t be far away — he took a role as senior adviser for public safety under newly-named “recovery czar” Lorraine Grillo.

“For me to continue working to serve this city and help to ensure its recovery, this is a true honor,” he said.

“In this new role I’ll have an opportunity to ensure these businesses know that they are in a safe city and they can return,” he said.

Monahan will be succeeded in the NYPD by Rodney Harrison, the department's current chief of detectives.

Monahan became a familiar sight for New Yorkers during his stint as a top cop. He often appeared at late night crime scenes, silhouetted by flashing blue and red lights and imparting facts in a no-nonsense, New York-accented voice.

During the George Floyd protests, Monahan briefly grabbed the spotlight by taking a knee in solidarity with the protesters.

But Monahan's gesture was quickly eclipsed by his role in harsh NYPD tactics taken against protesters. A recent lawsuit by state Attorney General Letitia James accused Monahan, along with NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea and Mayor Bill de Blasio, of deliberately failing to prevent those tactics. Monahan will also appear soon in front of a civilian review board over the protests.

A visibly emotional Harrison, who praised Monahan, said he wouldn’t be in his role — much less the city’s third African American chief of department — if not for protests. He said protests will be respected and the NYPD will learn from what happened.

Harrison said he had bad experiences with police officers when he was younger. He pledged the department will set high standards of professionalism and reach out to communities who are distrustful of police.

“I’m here to protect you,” he said. “I’m here to serve you. I’m going to be knocking on your door. I’ll be coming to your churches. I’ll be coming to your community meetings. You may get tired of seeing me, but in order for me to be successful, in order to make the city safe, we have to work together.”