The New York City Police Department announced the appointment of Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison. The appointment makes Harrison the first black person to hold the role since the force's founding almost 200 years ago.
Chief Rodney Harrison currently serves as Chief of Patrol, playing a central role in the creation and roll-out of Neighborhood Policing to every precinct across the City. He will now serve as Chief of Detectives, overseeing the prevention, detection and investigation of crime, bringing a decade of experience supervising investigations and crime fighting prowess to build the strongest possible cases against perpetrators of criminal activity.
"Serving as Chief of Patrol has been a tremendous privilege. Through Neighborhood Policing, we have transformed how the NYPD works with community members, grounded in building strong relationships of mutual respect, toward our shared mission of safety," Harrison said.
Chief Rodney Harrison currently serves as Chief of the Patrol Services Bureau where he has overseen the bureau's Neighborhood Policing implementation. Chief Harrison began his career with the NYPD as a police cadet in June 1991. A year later, he became a police officer and patrolled the 114th Precinct in Astoria, Queens. In 1994, he was assigned to the Narcotics division and then promoted to Detective in 1995. Harrison later worked in various commands in Patrol Borough Brooklyn South and Patrol Borough Brooklyn North—including the 71 Detective Squad, 73 Detective Squad and 73 Precinct—and Patrol Borough Bronx. He served as executive officer of 47 Precinct. He has also served as commanding officer of the 28 and 32 Precincts. He was promoted to Deputy Chief while serving in the Internal Affairs Bureau and then held assignments in Patrol Borough Staten Island and Patrol Borough Brooklyn North. He then became the Chief of Detectives of Brooklyn North overseeing all investigations, before being appointed Chief of Patrol.