Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bratton were stunned Friday when former Chief of Dept. Philip Banks III retired from the force after 28 years of service.
Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton this week picked a former President Obama appointee as his first deputy commissioner—the NYPD’s second in command—after Bratton’s first choice abruptly resigned three days before he was scheduled to be promoted.
According to a published report, Benjamin Tucker, 63, the department’s deputy commissioner of training, will succeed Rafael Pineiro, who retired last month after 44 years on the force. Tucker, who in 2009 was appointed by Obama to run the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, returned to the NYPD earlier this year after Bratton asked the Brooklyn native to head up the agency’s training efforts.
Bratton’s announcement Wednesday capped a tumultuous five days at 1 Police Plaza and City Hall. The top cop’s first choice for first deputy commissioner, Chief of Dept. Philip Banks III, decided instead to retire, even after initially accepting the promotion. Banks, in a statement released on Sunday, indicated that he opted to retire after 28 years because he and Bratton could not find common ground regarding Banks’ new role.
“While serving as first deputy commissioner would have been an honor, I felt that the position would take me away from where I could make the greatest contribution: the police work and operations that I love so much,” Banks wrote. “While Commissioner Bratton and I both made good-faith efforts to bridge that gap, we were not successful. For that reason, I informed the commissioner that I could not serve in that role, and he graciously accepted my decision.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio thanked Banks for his service, but clearly was left wondering what could have been.
“New York City is the safest big city in America thanks to the brave, dedicated men and women of the NYPD. We were disappointed to hear of Chief Philip Banks’ personal decision to step down,” de Blasio said in a statement. “He has served New York City admirably during his nearly 30 years on the force, and we were enthusiastic about the leadership and energy he would have brought to the position of first deputy commissioner.”
The Banks saga overshadowed the promotions of several department veterans, including that of Assistant Chief James Secreto, former commander of Patrol Borough Queens South, who is now the head of the Housing Bureau.
By Michael V. Cusenza
