Police commissioner taps former Queens cop with nursing background to lead SVU

Deputy Inspector Michael W. King is the new head of the NYPD’s Special Victims unit. Photo courtesy of NYPD

By David Brand 

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea named a veteran Queens cop to lead the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit on Sept. 3.

Deputy Inspector Michael W. King began his career in Queens’ 113th Precinct in 2000. He served in five other precincts around the city and ascended to the role of commanding officer of the 62nd Precinct Detective Squad before working in the Queens South Task Force, now known as Strategic Response Group 4.

King, however, brings more than policing experience to his role leading the SVU, He’s also a registered nurse specializing in forensic science. King most recently served commander of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit and executive officer of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force.

As a forensic nurse, King also worked for two years as the coordinator of Wyckoff Heights Hospital’s sexual assault response team. In that role, he examined victims of sexual assault and collected DNA and other forensic evidence for use in prosecuting sexual assault and rape.

Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison praised King’s appointment and diverse experiences.

“Throughout his NYPD career, Deputy Inspector King has been a relentless investigator whose integrity is reflected in his passion for representing all New Yorkers, in every neighborhood, on every case,” Harrison said. 

King said his new role was his “dream job” ever since he became a forensic nurse in 2009.

“I thought that if I could one day be the commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit it would give me the platform I needed in my fight for victims’ rights and in the pursuit of justice and integrity of special victims’ investigations,” he said.