Rodney Harrison Makes History as the First African American NYPD Chief of Detectives in 175 Years

Rodney Harris, first Black NYPD Chief of Detectives

The New York City Police Department has appointed Rodney Harrison as Chief of Detectives. He is the first African American in the department's 175-year existence to serve in this role.
Previously, Harrison served as Chief of Patrol, playing a central role in the creation and roll-out of Neighborhood Policing to every precinct across the city.

But now as Chief of Detectives, he oversees the prevention, detection and investigation of crime, bringing a decade of experience supervising investigations and crime fighting prowess to build the strongest possible cases against perpetrators of criminal activity.

Harrison began his career with the NYPD as a police cadet in June 1991. A year later, he became a police officer and patrolled the 114th Precinct in Astoria, Queens. In 1994, he was assigned to the Narcotics division and then promoted to Detective in 1995. Harrison later worked in various commands in Patrol Borough Brooklyn South and Patrol Borough Brooklyn North—including the 71 Detective Squad, 73 Detective Squad and 73 Precinct—and Patrol Borough Bronx.

He served as executive officer of 47 Precinct. He has also served as commanding officer of the 28 and 32 Precincts. He was promoted to Deputy Chief while serving in the Internal Affairs Bureau and then held assignments in Patrol Borough Staten Island and Patrol Borough Brooklyn North. He then became the Chief of Detectives of Brooklyn North overseeing all investigations, before being appointed Chief of Patrol.