By Stephen Witt
Three of the Brooklyn’s most influential elected officials reacted with disappointment and shock at the resignation yesterday of New York City Police Department Chief Philip Banks after 28 years of service. Banks’ retirement came on the heels of the recent retirement of First Deputy Police Commissioner Rafael Pineiro, leaving a large void of either a black or Hispanic in the upper ranks of the NYPD.
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries called Banks a talented law enforcement professional whose intelligence, strength and integrity helped make New York City a safer place for everyone.
“The departure of Chief Banks is another blow to the credibility of the New York Police Department,” said Jeffries. “Our city is a gorgeous mosaic of all races, and moving forward the police department’s leadership must reflect that tremendous diversity.”
Public Advocate Letitia James called Banks’ resignation “incredibly disappointing.
“He is a widely-respected leader and whose service has made a real difference for our city. The fact that just ten months into this administration, the top uniformed police officer believed that he had to resign in deeply troubling, especially on the heels of First Deputy Police Commissioner Rafael Pineiro’s retirement. I am most concerned about making sure the reforms promised to this city are real and lasting, and that our commitment to a diverse police leadership is unflinching,” she said.
Assemblyman Karim Camara, who also chairs the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic Legislative Caucus, said he was shocked to hear of the abrupt resignation of Chief Phillips Banks, days after a significant promotion.
“His departure from the department could not have come at a more delicate time. It is beyond devastating to lose a voice that was vital to make the necessary transformations to a department in need of deep-rooted, fundamental change,” said Camara. “There was no one better strategically placed to strike the necessary balance between respecting and yet also effectively protecting local communities. I am cautiously hopeful that Commissioner Bratton will fill Chief Banks’ role with an understanding that hard work that still needs to be done to repair the damage caused by years of discriminatory policies such as the misuse of Stop and Frisk and, more recently, an over reliance on Broken Windows.”
