35-Year NYPD Veteran James Secreto To Take Over As Chief Of Housing In Reshuffling
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- NYPD Assistant Chief James Secreto, a 35-year-veteran of the department, will take over as chief of housing effective Monday.
Secreto will be in charge of the Housing Bureau, which patrols New York City Housing Authority buildings around the five boroughs. There are more than 400,000 residents, employees and guests in the NYCHA system, the NYPD noted.
"Throughout his 35-year career, Chief Secreto has proved to be an excellent leader who is devoted to all communities within New York City," Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said in a news release. "As Chief of Housing he will continue to foster relationships throughout the many diverse neighborhoods the Department serves, as well as continue to keep the residents of New York City Housing Authority safe."
Secreto joined the NYPD in November 1979, and began his career in the 25th Precinct in East Harlem, police said. He was promoted to sergeant in 1984, lieutenant in 1989, captain in 1996, deputy inspector in 1998, inspector in 2000, deputy chief in 2004, and assistant chief in 2007.
He has served in various precincts and bureaus around the city.
Most recently, Secreto was the commanding officer of the Patrol Bureau Manhattan North, police said.
Secreto will replace Chief of Housing Carlos Gomez, who in turn was to be promoted to replace Chief of Patrol James O'Neill, according to published reports. O'Neill was expected to be promoted to Chief of Department on Tuesday with the anticipation that Chief of Department Philip Banks III would take over as First Deputy Commissioner.
But on Friday, it was announced that Banks would be resigning from the department.
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