Keechant Sewell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keechant Sewell
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Commissioner Sewell in 2022
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| 45th New York City Police Commissioner | |
| In office January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 |
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| Appointed by | Eric Adams |
| Preceded by | Dermot Shea |
| Succeeded by | Edward Caban |
| Chief of Detectives of the Nassau County Police Department |
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| In office September 24, 2020 – December 31, 2021 |
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| Commissioner | Patrick Ryder |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Ferro |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 2, 1972 New York City, U.S. |
Keechant L. Sewell (born April 2, 1972) is an American leader who has worked in both law enforcement and sports. She was the 45th New York City Police Commissioner, making history as the first woman and third Black person to hold this important role. She served in this position from January 2022 until June 2023. Currently, Sewell is a Senior Vice President for the New York Mets baseball team, focusing on security and guest experience.
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Early Life and Growing Up
Keechant Sewell grew up in the Queens area of Long Island City in New York City. She spent some of her early years living in the Queensbridge Houses. Later, her family moved to other Queens neighborhoods like Corona and Jamaica.
Career in Law Enforcement
Keechant Sewell dedicated many years to public service as a police officer and leader.
Working in Nassau County
In October 1997, Sewell began her career as a police officer with the Nassau County Police Department. She started in the Fifth Precinct. Over time, she earned promotions and took on more responsibility.
By 2016, she was the commanding officer of the major case squad. This team handles important and complex investigations. Sewell also trained with the FBI National Academy in 2008. She worked in different areas, including professional standards and internal affairs. She even became the county's chief hostage negotiator.
On September 24, 2020, Sewell was promoted to Chief of Detectives for the Nassau County Police Department. In this role, she led about 350 officers. She was also part of the New York–New Jersey Joint-Terrorism Task Force, which works to prevent terrorism.
Leading the New York City Police Department
On December 14, 2021, it was announced that Keechant Sewell would become the 45th New York City Police Commissioner. This was a very significant appointment by Mayor-Elect Eric Adams. She officially took office on January 1, 2022.
As Commissioner, Sewell became the first woman to lead the NYPD. She was also the third Black person to hold this top position. She was in charge of a very large team, including 35,000 uniformed officers and 18,000 civilian staff members.
In June 2023, Sewell announced she was stepping down from her role as Commissioner. Mayor Adams thanked her for her hard work. He noted that crime rates had decreased during her time as commissioner.
PBA President Pat Lynch also praised Sewell. He said she took over the police department during a challenging time. He added that she cared about the officers and worked to improve their conditions.
After her resignation, Edward Caban became the new Commissioner. He had previously been the first deputy commissioner under Sewell.
Personal Life
When she was appointed as the New York City Police Commissioner, Keechant Sewell lived in Valley Stream, New York.
