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Black woman steps into key New York police station, first

2020-10-29T17:30:11.509Z


A black woman, Juanita Holmes, was promoted Thursday, October 29, to one of the key New York police stations, a first which should help restore confidence in a police under fire from criticism since the Black Lives Matter movement. New York Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed Juanita Holmes Chief of Patrol, placing her in charge of the 77 police stations and a majority of police officers


A black woman, Juanita Holmes, was promoted Thursday, October 29, to one of the key New York police stations, a first which should help restore confidence in a police under fire from criticism since the Black Lives Matter movement.

New York Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed Juanita Holmes Chief of Patrol, placing her in charge of the 77 police stations and a majority of police officers for the NYPD, the United States' first municipal police force with nearly 35,000 employees.

Read also: This Chinese mole that infiltrated the New York police

"

It's incredibly important that the police leaders look like the city (...), that they really feel the neighborhoods and the people,

" said the Democratic mayor.

After 30 years of ascension in the police force, and a brief experience in the private sector, Juanita Holmes was already, since December, as person in charge of "

collaboration

" with the population, the most senior woman of the NYPD.

She admitted her appointment came in "

a troubled time

" for New York police.

The NYPD was first accused of numerous brutalities during the massive Black Lives Matter protests that rocked New York City after George Floyd's death in late May.

Then to have eased off, contributing to an outbreak of homicides and shootings, for the first time since the 1990s. An unusually high number of police have left or want to retire, a sign of low morale.

And the previous Patrol Chief, of Dominican origin, had recently resigned, after less than a year in his post, after disagreements with the mayor, according to local media.

Read also: Murder of George Floyd: indicted, police officer Derek Chauvin was released on bail

The main New York police union, hostile to Bill De Blasio and calling for the re-election of Donald Trump, has applauded the appointment of Ms. Holmes.

"

New York police are in desperate need of capable leaders like Chief Holmes who can stand up to politicians and help curb the city's decline

," tweeted its president, Patrick Lynch.

As the city braces for a particularly tense period in the run-up to the November 3 presidential election, and sweeping budget cuts due to the pandemic's fiscal shortfall, Holmes pledged to work to "

restore

New Yorkers'

confidence

”in the police, in particular by deepening the community policing efforts already underway, which should in turn boost police morale.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-10-29

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