O’Neill takes command at NYPD


James P. O’Neill

 

By Ray O’Hanlon

rohanlon@irishecho.com

The long green line in the New York Police Department is still intact.

Chief of Department, James P. O’Neill, has been appointed commissioner by Mayor Bill de Blasio after Commissioner Bill Bratton announced Tuesday that he would be stepping down.

Bratton, who is Irish American and from the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester, was serving for the second time as top cop in New York City after succeeding Commissioner Ray Kelly.

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Bratton will be returning to the private sector.

His successor, who was introduced by the mayor as new commissioner at a City Hall press conference, is well known in the city’s Irish and Irish American community.

His Irish family roots are mainly in County Monaghan.

Bratton’s resignation was out of the blue.

He was expected to serve the de Blasio administration until next year’s election.

As well as New York, Bratton has headed departments in Los Angeles and Boston and returned to New York for his second stint as commissioner in December, 2013.

O’Neill has been Chief of Department since 2014 and in that role was the highest ranking uniformed officer in the NYPD.

He will take up his new role as commissioner next month.

O’Neill’s appointment was immediately welcomed.

“I thank Commissioner Bratton for his tremendous service to New York as the leader of our city’s police force.

“I would also like to congratulate Chief of Department Jimmy O’Neill on his appointment as our next commissioner. I look forward to working with him help keep our families and our communities safe,” said Congressman Joe Crowley in a statement.

 

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