NYPD Commissioner Names First Black Chief Of Detectives

NEW YORK CITY — NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea appointed the department's first black chief of detectives after his own promotion spurred outrage that he'd been chosen over a higher-ranking African American cop.

Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison will claim the position left vacant when Shea was sworn in as police commissioner earlier this week and second-in-command Fausto Pichardo will replace Harrison, the commissioner announced Wednesday.

“Rodney and Fausto bring tremendous leadership experience to their new positions, having served in critical executive roles," said Shea.

“With Rodney’s investigative experience and Fausto’s role in bringing Neighborhood Policing to fruition, we will continue to work closely with the people we are sworn to serve to make New York City even safer.”

Harrison and Fausto claim their new roles one month after former commissioner James O'Neill retired to work for Visa and Mayor Bill de Blasio named Shea to replace him, passing over Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker.

More reassignments are still to come, Shea said.