Former Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea took over as Police Commissioner on December 1 after James O’Neill stepped down from the position to take a job in the private sector. Upon announcing the appointment, Mayor de Blasio stated, “Born and raised in Sunnyside, Dermot Shea is a New Yorker through and through. A 28-year veteran, he knows what it’s like to walk a beat and lead a precinct. He helped build the strategies that have driven crime to record lows. He’s a proven change agent. As Commissioner, Chief Shea will focus on putting 21st century precision policing to work in order to deepen police-community bonds and end the scourge of gun and gang violence.” JPCA welcomes our new commissioner, wishes him all the best and hopes to have him as a guest at one of our meetings in 2020.