Adams appoints Caribbean-American as First Deputy Police Commissioner

New York City Mayor, Eric Adams has announced the appointment of Caribbean-American Tania Kinsella as the 45th first deputy commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

The mayor has also appointed Edward A. Caban as the 46th commissioner. Caban is the first Latino to serve as commissioner of the NYPD in its 178-year history, and Kinsella, the daughter of Jamaican and Guyanese immigrants, is the first woman of color to serve as first deputy commissioner in NYPD history.

A 20-year veteran of the NYPD, Kinsella has also served at several precincts across the five boroughs of New York City, where she has held numerous positions such as captain, commanding officer, deputy inspector, and inspector.

She became executive officer at the office of the chief of patrol in 2022, where she was subsequently promoted to deputy chief.

“The youngest daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and Guyana, her appointment today truly personifies the American Dream,” said Adams, a retired NYPD captain, in announcing Kinsella’s appointment on Monday.

“In her 20 years with the NYPD, First Deputy Commissioner Kinsella has devoted herself to bringing the police and the community together, building bonds, and making our city a better, safer, and stronger place to live,” Adams added. “Commissioner Caban and First Deputy Commissioner Kinsella are the best of the NYPD. They truly understand the importance of both safety and justice, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to help keep our city safe.”

“Aside from being a mother, working as a police officer is the most deeply rewarding job I can imagine, and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to do even more for the city I love,” said NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Kinsella. “From the very first moment I joined the NYPD 20 years ago, it was love at first sight because being a police officer is about so much more than keeping people safe. It’s about building community, helping others from all walks of life, and making a difference in people’s lives, especially those in need.

“As a mother, I am always thinking of my children’s safety and well-being, and as the commanding officer at the 120th Precinct — in my home borough of Staten Island — I have been determined to protect all our children and families and make a difference in the place I love and call home,” she added. “The Bronx made me, and Staten Island raised me. As the daughter of two immigrants, this is the American Dream, and I want to thank Mayor Adams and Commissioner Caban for helping fulfill that dream. I am honored to take on this role and thankful for this opportunity to serve my fellow New Yorkers.”

Kinsella began her career with the NYPD as a police officer in 2003, patrolling the streets of the 120th Precinct on Staten Island, one of the first boroughs of New York City.

In 2008, she was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the 68th Precinct in Brooklyn. In 2013, she was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to the 13th Precinct in Manhattan.

First Deputy Commissioner Kinsella was promoted to captain in 2016 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.

In 2020, Kinsella was designated as the commanding officer of the 120th Precinct. She was promoted to inspector in 2021.

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

There, 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.

First Deputy Commissioner Kinsella holds a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and a Master of Arts in Police Leadership and Criminal from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York. She is a member of the NYPD Running Club.

“This is a historic moment for all of New York City, not just the NYPD,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “Commissioner Caban and First Deputy Commissioner Kinsella are both exceptional leaders, driven by their dedication to public service and deep understanding of our diverse communities. I look forward to continuing to work with them both toward a safer, more prosperous city.”