Third times the charm? Mayor Eric Adams announced Jessica Tisch as NYPD commissioner last Wednesday, Nov. 20. She becomes the second woman to assume the role after Keechant Sewell, the administration’s inaugural appointee. Tisch is shifting commissioner roles from her current post, leading the NYC Department of Sanitation, to return to the NYPD, where she previously oversaw police IT operations.
“For 12 years, I cherished the special privilege of serving alongside the brave women and men of the New York City Police Department,” said Tisch in a statement. “I’ve seen firsthand the profound nobility of the policing profession, and I was proud to work shoulder-to-shoulder with both uniform members and civilians to propel the NYPD into the next century of technological advancement.”
NYPD Guardians Association president Patrick Gordon said the Black fraternal police organization will fully support Tisch and hopes she will use its relationships to work toward better policing.
“We have strong relationships with the African-American community,” said Gordon over the phone. “One of the things we’re willing to do to help is [by connecting Tisch] to a lot of the Black leaders across the city, be [they] elected officials or community leaders, to help conversations on community policing.”
Upper Manhattan Councilmember Shaun Abreu, whose district worked with Sanitation under Tisch for a containerization pilot program, commended the appointment. The initiative is credited with cutting down local rat sightings by 68%.
“Commissioner Tisch has proven that with strong leadership and a clear vision, we can tackle even the toughest challenges in our city,” said Abreu in a statement. “Her ability to confront sanitation issues with creativity and determination gives me great confidence that she will bring the same energy and excellence to the NYPD.”
Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, opposed the appointment due to Tisch’s work in developing NYPD surveillance programs, particularly through the Domain Awareness System, one of the world’s largest camera networks.
“Tisch built her career on building discriminatory surveillance systems across New York, systematically weaponizing technology against our most vulnerable communities,” said Cahn in a statement. “This appointment would be a nightmare under any circumstances, but it’s particularly alarming for undocumented New Yorkers at the dawn of a new Trump Administration.”
Tisch replaces interim commissioner Thomas Donlan, who stepped in for Edward Caban, who resigned earlier this fall after federal agents seized his phone. Feds also seized materials from Donlan for an investigation predating his NYPD role. Caban was the first Hispanic person to lead the NYPD.
Caban’s predecessor, Sewell, resigned in June 2023 and now works for the New York Mets in her newly created position as senior vice president of security and guest appearance. Not only was Sewell the first female NYPD commissioner; she is also the only Black woman to serve in the role.
Adams swore in his third police commissioner on Monday, Nov. 25, making Tisch’s appointment official. He said the city needed a “battle-tested leader” to head the NYPD, pointing to Tisch’s 17 years in city service and pushed back on those questioning her career solely in civilian roles without uniformed patrol experience.
“We know how to keep people safe, but we must turn the corner — must bring the innovation and the thought processing that Commissioner Tisch brought during her first time here and what she brought into DSNY,” Adams said.
Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.
