Edward Caban sworn in as 46th NYPD commissioner
NEW YORK -- It was a day of intense ethnic pride as Mayor Eric Adams swore in Edward Caban to be the first Latino head the NYPD in its 178-year history.
It was the second time he broke the glass ceiling at the agency. Caban succeeded Keechant Sewell, who was the first woman.
Caban stood in the blazing sun to take the oath of office at the same Bronx precinct where he started his career 32 years ago, never dreaming, he said, that a cop who looked like him would ever become the 46th commissioner of the NYPD.
"I just want to stay right here for one second and just soak it all in," Caban said.
It was a "come full circle" moment for Caban, who stood in front of the 40th Precinct in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx to take the oath of office as the 46th commissioner of the NYPD.
He freely admitted that when Police Officer Eddie Caban, a self-described "young Puerto Rican kid from Parkchester," first walked the beat in the 40th Precinct, he had little hope of leading the agency.
"In those days, the top bosses of the Police Department didn't really look like me," Caban said.
He credited his father, an activist in the NYPD Hispanic Society who served as a transit cop with Adams, with pushing him to succeed.
"He told me 'Take the test, son. Promotions will earn you a seat at the table.' I'm blessed that my dad is still with us and can see the impact of his guidance come full circle," Caban said.
After being sworn in, Caban said his father's guidance helped him climb the ladder and he thanked Sewell for her leadership and for bringing down crime.
"Together, we will build upon our successes and continue to drive down crime and improve quality of life in our communities," said Caban. "Today, I hope there is a young man, a college student, or a military veteran who hears about my new assignment today and it sparks the question, what if? To them I say, the NYPD wants you, the NYPD needs you, and your commissioner has plenty for you to do."
Adams also reflected on the importance of the moment.
"This is probably going to be one of the most significant and emotional moments for me," Adams said.
Adams gave Caban credit for helping to bring crime numbers down as former Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell's first deputy. He talked to Sewell about Caban.
"I remember my conversation with Commissioner Keechant and stating 'I'm looking towards Eddie to be the next commissioner,' and she simply said 'He's ready. He's ready,'" Adams said.
The appointment sends an important message.
"Anybody can be police commissioner," Fernando Ferrer said. "No aspiration is out of bounds."
"This guy Eddie Caban is a real Hispanic, and I am so proud. I'm so excited," former Councilman Rev. Reuben Diaz, Sr. said.
"He knows New York City. He knows how we work. He knows how to deal with it. He knows how to rock and roll," Rev. Oswald Denis said.
"Congratulations to our new Police Commissioner Edward Caban for this well-deserved honor. I applaud Mayor Adams for yet another historic appointment," Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg wrote on Twitter. "I thank Commissioner Sewell for her partnership, and I look forward to collaborating with Commissioner Caban and building on the public safety gains we made in Manhattan over the last 18 months."
The mayor also broke another glass ceiling Monday, naming Tania Kinsella as the first woman of color as first deputy commissioner. Kinsella, a 20-year NYPD veteran, held positions including captain, commanding officer, deputy inspector and inspector at precincts across the five boroughs.
