- A woman will lead the New York Police Department for the first time in the force's history.
- Mayor-elect Eric Adams chose Nassau County Chief of Detectives Keechant Sewell to be the NYPD's first female commissioner.
- Sewell said one of her main goals is fighting violent crime with a laser-focus on guns in the city.
New York Mayor-elect Eric Adams named Nassau County Chief of Detectives Keechant Sewell to be the New York Police Department's new commissioner on Wednesday.
The move will make Sewell the first woman to run the NYPD in the force's history.
"I'm so excited, this day, to tear down barriers," Adams said at the formal announcement Wednesday morning at a public housing development in Queens. "I chose who I know is going to bring our city back and create an environment where we are going to raise healthy children and families."
Adams added: "She crushed every glass ceiling that was put in her way, and today, she has crashed and destroyed the final one we need in New York City."
When Sewell took the podium, she recognized Adams for making a "bold and unapologetic" decision that "gave women in policing across this country an opportunity."
"Policing is about people," Sewell said, adding that her vision for the city is aligned with Adams'.
She said that in the role of commissioner, she plans to be "laser-focused" on violent crime in New York City "with an emphasis on guns."
Adams has said he would nominate a woman to this position, but Sewell was a surprise choice, having beaten out candidates from larger cities like Philadelphia and Seattle, local ABC News outlet ABC7 reported.
In addition to being the first woman to lead the force, Sewell is the third Black person to lead the NYPD.
"I bring a different perspective. Committed to make sure the department looks like the city it serves and making the decision to elevate women and people of color to leadership positions," she said. "It is said the NYPD is the best of the best. It's about to get better."
The NYPD did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.