Mayor Praises Outgoing NYPD Commissioner After Her Resignation

Mindy Cohn

During today's NYPD  award presentation at NYPD Headquarters at One Police Plaza, outgoing NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell received a minutes-long standing ovation from those in uniform and attendees. 

The commissioner did not address her resignation, which became public yesterday, as reported by BorokPark24 here. Instead, she was there to celebrate the participants in the Police Athletic League's "Police Commissioner for a Day" essay contest and avoided reporters altogether by leaving the stage through a rear exit.

Despite rumors of undisclosed disagreements with the mayor,  Adams had only words of praise to share for the commissioner saying Sewell is welcome to stay and lead the nation's largest police department as long as she wants.

"She made the decision that she wanted to do something else, and I respect that," Adams shared today. "People come and go. There's nothing wrong with that. I have a rule: Do not stand in the way of a person's desire to pursue their career.

"I can't thank her enough. We're going to continue to move this department forward. The city is moving in the right direction."

There have been no hints as to whom Adams plans to find to replace Sewell as NYPD commissioner after June 30.