Statement From Philip Banks III On Resignation From NYPD

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- On Sunday, former NYPD Chief of Department Philip Banks III released a statement regarding his sudden resignation.

Read on below for the full statement.

"On Friday, I made the difficult decision to leave the NYPD after 28 years. While I recognize that I was a public servant, I am a private person. However, in light of the attention my decision has received and the ongoing inquires it has generated, I thought it was in everyone's interest that I make a few points. Since I feel that attention should be on how to make the finest police department in the world even better, I ask everyone to understand that I will not be commenting on this any further.

"First, the Police Department offered me opportunities that I could have never imagined when I joined the force 28 years ago. In turn, I did everything I could to serve my fellow New Yorkers, as did the thousands of officers with whom I had the privilege to serve. I will always be grateful to the department and proud of the work we did.

"I believe it is the right -- frankly, the responsibility -- of the Commissioner to select whomever he wants to help lead the department and assign responsibilities as he sees fit. In this case, 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. 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.

"I am at peace with my decision and ready to begin the next chapter. I have every confidence that Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Bratton will continue to build a department which every New Yorker can be proud of. While I will no longer be part of that worthy mission, I believe we should all support them.

"My family and I appreciate everyone's good wishes, and you are all in our thoughts."

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