A Caribbean Immigrant Is Now Chief Of Patrol Of The Nation’s Largest Police Department

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY., Fri. Dec. 6, 2019: A Caribbean immigrant has been named as the chief of patrol of the US’ largest police department, the NYPD.

Fausto Pichardo, a top patrol services bureau deputy will succeed Rodney Harrison in the post after Harrison was named as the NYPD’s first black chief of detectives.

Pichardo was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to New York City as a child. Two years ago, he became the first NYPD officer from the Caribbean nation to be promoted to a two-star chief. As chief of patrol, he will wear three stars.

The 20-year veteran of the department previously worked under Harrison as executive officer in the patrol bureau.

“Since I came on the job in 1999, I wake up each day working to make the streets of New York City safer for police officers and the people we take the sacred oath and are sworn to serve,” Pichardo said. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to continue supporting the thousands of patrol officers who, through Neighborhood Policing, both work to prevent crime from ever happening while also getting to the root of New Yorkers’ problems.”

Pichardo and Harrison are moving into new roles as the NYPD prepares for a slew of statewide reforms taking effect Jan. 1. New NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea has pledged to diversify the department’s upper ranks.