Caribbean-American First Deputy NYPD Commish mentors high school students for NYRR Harlem 5K

New York Police Department (NYPD) First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, who considers herself “half-Jamaican” and “half-Guyanese”, says she is mentoring a group of 29 New York City high school girls as they prepare to run their first-ever New York Road Runners (NYRR) Harlem 5K on Aug. 10.

“As an ambassador for NYRR’s Run for the Future, I’m so honored to mentor the next generation and inspire them through the power of running,” Kinsella, a Staten Island native and a trailblazer who broke barriers to become the first woman of color to hold that position in NYPD history, told Caribbean Life. “This initiative truly goes beyond running; it imparts essential life skills to young women, emphasizing mental health, nutrition and self-care. 

“As a mother of two, I understand the vital role a strong, supportive community plays in personal development,” she added. “Witnessing these young women gain confidence and strength is deeply inspiring. 

“I am privileged to support them as they reach new heights and embrace their potential,” Kinsella continued. “The Harlem 5K celebrates these values, and provides an opportunity for our youth to challenge themselves and grow.”

The nonprofit NYRR said the girls – who are part of its free NYRR Run for the Future (RFTF) program, which introduces young women to running and wellness – will be among the 5,000 finishers at the NYRR Harlem 5K. 

“Run for the Future uses running as a tool for empowerment and transformation, taking NYC high school junior and senior women on a free, six-week journey, and they run a celebratory 5K at the conclusion of the program,” NYRR said.

Besides Kinsella’s accomplishments at the NYPD, she’s also a six-time finisher of the TCS New York City Marathon and a member of the NYPD Running Club. 

NYRR said she will run alongside the Run for the Future women at the Harlem 5K on Aug. 10, in addition to helping them prepare during their practice 5K. 

Kinsella said she will provide mentorship and guidance when she speaks at a Run for the Future panel about her career the week of the race. 

The Percy Sutton Harlem 5K is one of 60 youth and adult races NYRR produces annually.

NYRR said the race, part of Harlem Week, is “a celebration of Harlem and its critical role” in NYRR’s history as an organization.

The race’s namesake, Percy Sutton, championed the first five-borough marathon in 1976, and the current TCS New York City Marathon route runs through the neighborhood, NYRR said.

It said Sutton founded Harlem Day – now known as Harlem Week – which is celebrating its 50th anniversary of celebrating Harlem and its rich history in arts, culture, business, entertainment and sports.

NYRR said it has partnered with the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC), organizers of Harlem Week, for more than a decade to organize the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K.

More than 5,000 runners are expected to participate in the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K, with hundreds of youth ages 2-18 in free Rising New York Road Runners dashes and races, NYRR said.

Kinsella – who began her career with the NYPD as a police officer in 2003, patrolling the streets of the 120th Precinct on Staten Island – said she was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the 68th Precinct in Brooklyn in 2008. In 2013, she was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to the 13th Precinct in Manhattan. 

In 2016, Kinsella said she was promoted to captain and began her executive career as the executive officer of the 120th Precinct. 

She was designated as the commanding officer of Housing Police Service Area 1 in 2018 and was promoted to deputy inspector in 2019. A year later, she was designated as the commanding officer of the 120th Precinct, and was promoted to inspector in 2021.

In 2022, Kinsella said she was assigned as the executive officer of the Office of the Chief of Patrol, where she was subsequently promoted to deputy chief. 

There, she said she focused on the deployment of the Patrol Services Bureau’s approximately 13,000 members, monitoring crime, crime statistics, crime trends and domestic violence crimes. She was designated First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Police Department on Jul. 17, 2023. 

Kinsella holds a Bachelor of Science in legal studies and a Master of Arts in police leadership and criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (NYPD). She is a member of the NYPD Running Club.

As a mission-driven nonprofit, NYRR said it builds healthier lives and stronger communities through “the transformative power of running.” 

NYRR said Run for the Future is a free six-week program for New York City high school junior and senior young women that “uses running as a tool for empowerment and transformation.” 

The program focuses on running, fitness and overall wellness; and, at the end of the six weeks, the students run a celebratory 5K, NYRR said.