Police Commissioner Dermot Shea today announced the appointment of six NYPD commanders to new leadership positions within the Department’s executive team. The promotions build on the continued transformation of leadership for areas integral to the agency’s overall operations and mission.
“I am privileged to elevate each of these distinguished longtime NYPD leaders,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “Each of these commanders has shown exceptional vision in helping to steer the Department through the advancements of the last several years and each uniquely reflects the values and concerns of the citizens we serve.
Chief Juanita Holmes has been appointed as Chief of Patrol. In her new position, Chief Holmes will use her understanding of the way violence can afflict city neighborhoods she has served to reduce that violence and keep people safe. Chief Holmes, the highest ranking African American female officer in New York City Police Department history, will continue working to fulfill Commissioner Shea’s vision for the fairest and most effective policing possible in the city.
Chief Edward Delatorre has been appointed as Chief of Labor Relations, a critical assignment as the Police Department continues its work in reforming policing to best serve New Yorkers amid the continuing strain of budgetary and personnel challenges.
Assistant Chief Kim Royster has been appointed to lead in the important arena of transportation as Chief of Transportation.
Assistant Chief Kathleen O’Reilly has been appointed as Chief of Transit. Assistant Chief O’Reilly has, until this time, served Borough Commander of Manhattan North.
Deputy Chief Philip Rivera has been appointed Borough Commander of Manhattan North where he most recently served as Executive Officer.
Inspector Olufunmilola Obe has been appointed as Commander of the School Safety Division.
About Our Leadership
Chief Of Patrol Juanita N. Holmes
Having served most recently as Chief of Collaborative Policing, Chief Holmes brings an acute insight into what city residents want and need from the police and has reinforced policing’s basic mission of keeping people safe while advancing the kind of sweeping reforms the NYPD has instituted over the last nearly seven years that have served as a beacon for the profession. Chief Juanita N. Holmes joined the New York City Police Department in July 1987, and began her career on patrol in the 101 Precinct. She was promoted to Sergeant in December 1995; Lieutenant in May 2002; Captain in June 2007; Deputy Inspector in August 2009; Inspector in January 2012; Deputy Chief in September 2014; and Assistant Chief in September 2016. She has served in the 81, 100, 101, 103, 111, and 113 Precincts, as well as Police Service Areas 2 and 8, the Patrol Borough Bronx Investigations Unit, Housing Borough Bronx/Queens, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Training, the Domestic Violence Unit, and the School Safety Division. On September 16, 2016, Chief Holmes became the first African American woman to serve as Borough Commander when she was promoted to Assistant Chief. She most recently served as the Chief of Collaborative Policing. Prior to that she served as Commanding Officer of the School Safety Division. She has also commanded the Domestic Violence Unit, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Training, Police Service Area 2 and the 81 Precinct. She served as the Executive Officer of the 100 and 103 Precincts. Chief Holmes holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from St. Joseph’s College, and is a graduate of the Police Management Institute. She retired in December 2018 to join the private sector as Global Head of Corporate Security at BNY Mellon. She rejoined the Department in December 2019.
CHIEF OF LABOR RELATIONS
Edward Delatorre
Chief of Labor Relations Edward Delatorre joined the New York City Police Department in November 1979, and began his career on patrol in the 42 Precinct. He also served in the 41, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49 and 50 Precincts, as well as the Bronx Task Force, the Tactical Patrol Unit, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs, Patrol Borough Queens North, Patrol Borough Bronx, Patrol Borough Manhattan North, Patrol Borough Staten Island, the Patrol Services Bureau, and the Police Academy. He was promoted to Sergeant in October 1984; Lieutenant in November 1989; Captain in January 1992; Deputy Inspector in May 1994; Inspector in August 1995; Deputy Chief in March 2000; Assistant Chief in July 2006; and Chief of Transit in January 2018. Prior to serving as Chief of Transit, Chief Delatorre served as Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Staten Island, the 41, 42 and 43 Precincts, and the Police Academy. He also served as Executive Officer to the Chief of Department, the Chief of Patrol, the Chief of Housing, the Chief of Community Affairs, Patrol Borough Bronx, Patrol Borough Manhattan North and the 47 and 50 Precincts. Chief Delatorre holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Lehman College, and is a 1994 graduate of the Police Management Institute at Columbia University.
CHIEF OF TRANSPORTATION
Kim Y. Royster
Assistant Chief Kim Y. Royster began her career with the New York City Police Department in January 1985 as a Police Administrative Aide. She was sworn in as a Police Officer in July 1987, and was assigned to the 13 Precinct. She was promoted to Detective in March 1992; Sergeant in October 1997; Sergeant Special Assignment in December 2001; Lieutenant in April 2002; Captain in August 2006; Deputy Inspector in August 2009; Inspector in March 2012; Deputy Chief in October 2013; and Assistant Chief in August 2015. She has served in the Police Academy, the 5 and 13 Precincts, the 7 Precinct Detective Squad, Patrol Borough Manhattan South, the Office of Management Analysis and Planning, Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information (DCPI), Detective Borough Manhattan, Detective Borough Brooklyn, the Intelligence Division, the Internal Affairs Bureau and the Criminal Justice Bureau. Assistant Chief Royster most recently served as Executive Officer of the Community Affairs Bureau. She has previously served as Commanding Officer of the Manhattan South Investigations Unit and of the Public Information Division. She has also commanded and served as the Executive Officer of the 5 Precinct. While assigned to DCPI, the office received a Unit Citation for outstanding performance in 2011 for the coordination of media coverage/requests of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 and the President’s historical visit to the 1 Precinct and Ground Zero. Also during her tenure at DCPI, the Department developed official social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and the NYPD iPhone application. Assistant Chief Royster holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from St. Joseph’s College and is a 2011 graduate of the Police Management Institute at Columbia University. She is the third African American woman to hold the rank of deputy chief and the first to have held the rank of assistant chief in NYPD history.
Chief Of Transit Kathleen M. O’Reilly
Assistant Chief Kathleen M. O’Reilly joined the New York City Housing Police Department in April 1991, and began her career on patrol in Police Service Area 6. She was promoted to Sergeant in August 1997; Lieutenant in August 2000; Captain in February 2003; Deputy Inspector in November 2007; Inspector in August 2011; Deputy Chief in August 2012; and Assistant Chief in November 2014. She has served in the 24, 30, 34 and Central Park Precincts, PSA 6, the Housing Bureau, the Office of Management, Analysis and Planning, the Warrant Section, Patrol Borough Manhattan North and the Office of the Chief of Department. Assistant Chief O’Reilly most recently served as the Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Manhattan North, and has also commanded the Chief of Department’s Domestic Violence Unit, and the 24 and Central Park Precincts. She also served as Executive Officer of the 30 Precinct. Assistant Chief O’Reilly holds a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from the State University of New York. She is a 2007 graduate of the Police Management Institute at Columbia University, and a June 2012 graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education.
Commander Of School Safety Division Olufunmilola F. Obe
Inspector Olufunmilola F. Obe joined the New York City Police Department in June 1992 as a Police Cadet assigned to the 24 Precinct. In February 1994 she was sworn in as a New York City police officer and assigned to the 17 Precinct. She has also served at the 19, 28, and 50 Precincts, Police Service Area 3, the Property Clerk Division, and the Office of the Police Commissioner. Inspector Obe was promoted to Sergeant in December 2000; Lieutenant in July 2005; Captain in September 2008; Deputy Inspector in June 2012; and Inspector in December 2015. Inspector Obe served as Commanding Officer of the 28 Precinct and Police Service Area 3. She also served as Executive Officer of the 19, 25 and 34 Precincts. Inspector Obe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from The City College of New York and a Master of Public Administration from Marist College. Inspector Obe is 2014 graduate of the Police Management Institute at Columbia University.
Manhattan North Borough Commander Philip P. Rivera
Deputy Chief Philip P. Rivera joined the New York City Police Department in June 1995, and began his career on patrol in the 46 Precinct. He also served in the 30, 41, 44, 46 and 52 Precincts, Patrol Borough Bronx and the Bronx Impact Response Team.
He was promoted to Sergeant in August 2000; Lieutenant in November 2003; Captain in February 2008; Deputy Inspector in December 2012; Inspector in November 2014; and Deputy Chief in August 2017. Deputy Chief Rivera most recently served as Executive Officer of Patrol Borough Manhattan North. He has served as Commanding Officer of the 41 and 46 Precincts. He also served as Executive Officer of the 46 and 52 Precincts.
Deputy Chief Rivera holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from John Jay College, and is also a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum/Senior Management Institute for Police, at Boston University.
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