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Rodney K. Harrison (born February 25, 1969) is an American police officer and administrator who recently served as the Police Commissioner of the Suffolk County Police Department. He previously served in the New York City Police Department where he achieved the highest uniform rank, Chief of department.

Harrison began his career with the NYPD as a cadet in 1991. He became a Police Officer on June 30, 1992. Harrison was assigned as an undercover in the Narcotics Division, and in 1995 he was promoted to detective.

Harrison was named the Commanding Officer of the 28th and 32nd Precincts in Harlem. In 2014 he was selected by then Commissioner Bratton to be second-in-command in Staten Island following the killing of Eric Garner by police. Harrison was promoted to Chief of Patrol where he oversaw the implementation of the Neighborhood Policing Program.

In December 2019, Harrison was named the first black Chief of Detectives in the NYPD'S 175-year history.

In 2021, Harrison was promoted to Chief of department, the highest-ranking uniform member of the department. Harrison announced his retirement from the NYPD in November 2021.

On December 21, 2021, it was announced that Harrison was nominated to be the Police Commissioner of Suffolk County. He was unanimously approved by the Suffolk County Legislature. Harrison became the first black Police Commissioner in the Department's history.

Early life

Harrison grew up in the South Jamaica section of Queens and joined the NYPD in 1991 as a police cadet. He attended Benjamin N Cardozo High School. Harrison was sworn in as a police officer in the June 30, 1992 midnight class. The class was sworn in one second into July 1 because the New York City fiscal budget begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. Harrison graduated from the NYC Police Academy on January 12, 1993. After graduating, he patrolled the 114th Precinct in Astoria, Queens.

Career

Suffolk County Police Department

In December 2021, Suffolk County Executive, Steve Bellone nominated Harrison to be the county's police commissioner. Harrison retired from the NYPD after a 30-year career as a result. On December 23, 2021, Suffolk County's legislature unanimously confirmed Harrison's nomination and thus cleared the path for his appointment. Harrison was sworn in as the Commissioner of the Suffolk County Police Department on Tuesday, January 11, 2022.

New York City Police Department

In December 2019, Harrison was promoted to the position of the Chief of Detectives – the first black person to hold the role since the New York City Police Department's founding 200 years prior.

Dates of rank

Sworn in as a Patrolman - 07/01/1992
Promoted to Detective - 1995
Promoted to Sergeant - 1996
Promoted to Lieutenant - 2002
Promoted to Captain - 2007
Promoted to Deputy Inspector - 2011
Promoted to Inspector - 2013
Promoted to Deputy Chief - 2016
Promoted to Chief of Patrol - 2018
Promoted to Chief of Detectives - 2019
Chief of Department - 2021

References

1. "NYPD Chief Of Department". Retrieved January 1, 2022.
2. "Rodney Harrison, Police Commissioner". Suffolk County Police Department. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
3. "NYPD commissioner appoints pair in move toward diversity among brass". Newsday. December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
4. "NYPD Chief Of Patrol Monahan To Take Over As Chief Of Department". CBS News. January 8, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
5. Bolger, Timothy (December 16, 2021). "Rodney Harrison Confirmed as Next Suffolk Police Commissioner". Long Island Press. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
6. Goldberg, Jodi (December 21, 2021). "NYPD Chief Rodney Harrison tapped to lead Suffolk County PD". Fox5 New York. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
7. Ferrette, Candice (December 23, 2021). "Rodney Harrison confirmed as Suffolk County Police commissioner". Newsday. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
8. Asmelash, Leah (December 5, 2019). "NYPD appoints first black chief of detectives". CNN. Retrieved December 17, 2021.

• New York City Police Department officers
• African-American police officers
• Living people
• 1969 births