Cop from Queens named NYPD’s top uniformed officer

Queens native Rodney Harrison was named the NYPD’s new chief of department Thursday. Photo via NYPD

By David Brand

New York City’s new top cop has his roots in Southeast Queens.

Rodney Harrison was named the NYPD’s chief of department, the highest uniformed role, on Thursday. Harrison is a 30-year veteran of the NYPD and most recently served as chief of detectives.

He replaces Terence Monahan as chief of department after Monahan announced his decision to step down at a press conference with Harrison and Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

During the event, de Blasio remarked on Harrison’s hometown pride, prompting Harrison to describe his childhood in Southeast Queens and the experiences that motivated him to become a police officer.

“I grew up in Jamaica, Queens, grew up in a co-op called Rochdale Village, and growing up in that community we had negative interactions with law enforcement,” Harrison said. “There was some struggle sometimes, some frustrations, but I also took a leap of faith in coming into this organization.”

He said a specific stop by an “extremely unprofessional” officer compelled him to change how police interacted with New Yorkers of color.

“I said to myself, all cops can't be like this and how can I make a difference? And how can I make a change? And that's why I took that application and came on his job to make a change,” Harrison said.

Monahan will now work as a special adviser to the city’s new COVID-19 recovery czar Lorraine Grillo after 39 years in the department.

Harrison’s promotion means that both the NYPD commissioner, Dermot Shea, and the chief of department are from Queens. Shea grew up in Sunnyside.

Shea said picking Harrison for the job was “an easy choice.”

“He is so well-rounded and ready for this job, I think the sky is the limit,” Shea said.