Keechant Sewell made history on Monday when she became the first woman to lead the New York City Police Department, and she wasted no time pledging to reform a department that has long been criticized for its use of excessive force and racial profiling.
“We will demand fairness and equity, but we will demand accountability,” Sewell said during her first press conference as police commissioner. “We will build trust one interaction at a time.”
Sewell, a 23-year veteran of the NYPD, takes over the department at a time when crime is on the rise and the city is grappling with a number of high-profile police shootings. She has promised to focus on reducing crime while also implementing reforms that will make the NYPD more accountable to the communities it serves.
One of Sewell’s top priorities is to increase the number of women and minorities in the NYPD. She has also pledged to create a new unit to investigate bias within the department and to implement new training programs on implicit bias and de-escalation techniques.
Sewell’s appointment has been praised by many community leaders and activists, who see her as a symbol of change within the NYPD. However, some critics have expressed concern that she is too close to the department’s old guard and will not be able to bring about meaningful reform.
Only time will tell whether Sewell will be able to deliver on her promises. But her appointment is a sign that the NYPD is finally ready to address the systemic problems that have plagued it for years.
Here are some of the key takeaways from Sewell’s first press conference:
* Sewell pledged to focus on reducing crime while also implementing reforms that will make the NYPD more accountable to the communities it serves.
* She promised to increase the number of women and minorities in the NYPD and to create a new unit to investigate bias within the department.
* Sewell said that she would demand fairness and equity, but also accountability, from her officers.
* She pledged to build trust one interaction at a time.
It remains to be seen whether Sewell will be able to deliver on her promises, but her appointment is a sign that the NYPD is finally ready to address the systemic problems that have plagued it for years..
