by Yehudit Garmaise

NYPD Deputy Inspector Richie Taylor, a 15-year NYPD veteran, who is the highest-ranking officer who wears a yarmulka to ever serve in the department, will be promoted to the rank of Inspector, after serving as a Deputy inspector for just more than one year, in a ceremony that will likely be conducted by Commissioner Dermot Shea at the Police Academy in Queens, next week.

Taylor, who lives in Flatbush with his wife and five children, also since November 2020, has served as the commanding officer of Community Affairs, and he previously served as the commanding officer of the Manhattan South Investigations Unit.

While Taylor, who grew up in Manhattan Beach and Midwood, is often seen interacting with the Jewish community in many ways at simchas, fundraising and chesed events, and other joyous gatherings, such as providing a new scooter to the Boro Park boy whose scooter was stolen, and the recent Chuf Alef celebration with the Satmar Rebbe, shlita, and hundreds of chassidim, he has always been focused on providing public safety.

When soon-to-be Inspector Taylor was only 15, he served as “police explorer,” a career-oriented program that gives young adults the opportunity to experience what it is like to work in law enforcement, in the 61st Precinct, the same place, where years later, in September 2016, he was named the 61st Precinct Cop of the Month Award for conducting, without a partner, an arrest of a perpetrator who had a firearm.

After attending Yeshiva of Manhattan Beach and Touro College, Taylor, who served as an Emergency Medical Technician and a member of Hatzalah, arrived to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11, before the first tower fell.

In 2005, after attending the Police Academy, Taylor was first sworn in as a police officer. Within five years, Taylor was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and four years later Taylor became a Lieutenant.

In 2016, Taylor was promoted to Captain, and in November 2020, Taylor was named Deputy Inspector.

He has served in 12 Commands, and during Hurricane Sandy, Taylor was assigned to serve in the Office of Emergency Management.

Jews all over New York City look up to Taylor, who makes a Kiddush Hashem every day: fighting crime, providing public safety, and representing the Jewish community.