By Rhoda Kwan -
NBC News
Sworn into office late on Saturday, Keechant Sewell made history by becoming the first female commissioner of the New York Police Department since its founding 176 years ago.
"This oath reflects my deep commitment to our great city, and to the individuals who are rated as the best in New York," Sewell, 49, tweeted after the ceremony at the city police headquarters.
"I am privileged to be here and ready to work!"
[New York and New Hampshire mobilize the National Guard to contain the spike in COVID-19 cases]
Sewell became the 45th commissioner of the nation's largest police force after serving as chief of detectives in the Nassau County Police Department, where she spent 25 years.
He chose Edward Caban, former commanding officer of the Harlem district, to be his second in command.
Sewell was selected by the new mayor of New York, Eric Adams, who was also sworn in on Saturday in the city's Times Square.
[Non-citizen immigrants from New York are moved to tears that they will be able to vote]
Placing one hand over a family Bible, he held in the other a photo of his mother Dorothy, who died in 2020, as Associate Justice Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix of the state Supreme Court appellate division swore him in.
Adams, 61, a former police captain, has spoken out in the campaign against crime, police and racial injustice.
He had also promised to elect a police commissioner for his administration.
Keewant Sewell, Nassau County Executive
He is the second black mayor of the city, after David Dinkins, who served from 1990 to 1993, and the 110th mayor of New York.
Both Sewell and Adams will have to contend with an increase in gun and violent crime.
[A man robs a school bus and wreaks havoc on the streets of New York in his attempt to flee]
"We want to intercept weapons, we want to make anti-weapon units, we want to do all kinds of things that we can use to stop the violence in the city," Sewell told the New York affiliate of our sister network NBC after announcing his new position on last month.
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New York City is also dealing with an influx of new COVID-19 omicron infections.
Adams has said he is studying the possibility of extending the city's strict vaccination mandate to public schools and has vowed to keep schools open and prevent further closures in the city of 8.8 million people.
[Five Latinos from a family die in a fire in New York: "There was nothing you could do, that fire was immense," says witness]
An unconventional politician, Adams is the author of a book on the benefits of veganism, which he has said has helped him with diabetes.
He has also featured his favorite smoothie recipe on social media.
He's also known to frequent some of the city's nightclubs, saying during an appearance on Stephen Colbert's late-night show that "this is a city of nightlife."
I have to test the product.
I have to go out".