Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Hosts Press Conference to Announce Retirement of Police Commissioner Bratton

August 2, 2016

Mayor Bill de Blasio: So glad you all could join us today. Well, it’s a very important day for New York City – a very good day, a very meaningful day. And it is a day where we once again recognize the extraordinary achievements of our police force, and driving down crime, and making our neighborhoods safer, and bringing police and community closer together. And we celebrate. We celebrate transition filled with continuity, filled with share of vision. And we celebrate taking a step into New York City’s future.

In September, Commissioner Bill Bratton – whose contributions to our city and to law enforcement not only here, but across the nation are literally inestimable and extraordinary – in September, Commissioner Bratton will retire from the NYPD. And we have found the perfect person to succeed him in Chief Jimmy O’Neill. And I congratulate you, Chief O’Neill, on this very important day for the city.

I will say at the outset – I always call him Jimmy. You can call him James; you can call him Jim; but I always call him Jimmy.

Jimmy is one of the best prepared incoming police commissioners this city has ever seen. His decades of experience have taught him not only how to lead and how to continue to improve the extraordinary work of the work of the NYPD, but also led him to the vision of neighborhood policing that is now taking hold as the philosophy of this Department. He is the architect of our neighborhood policing strategy – a strategy that Commissioner Bratton and Chief O’Neill convinced me over the last few years would be the future of this city and was deserving of extraordinary investment – a strategy that’s going to make us safer, a strategy that’s going to bring police and community closer together. This is the man who created that vision of neighborhood policing, and he is the man who will see that vision through to fruition for the good of all New Yorkers.

We will never forget or fail to honor the achievements of Bill Bratton. And he and I have developed an intense bond over these last 31 months. And I am happy for the future and I’m happy for your future. But I want you to know this extraordinary friendship – I’ll miss seeing you every single day – but this friendship and this deep, deep connection will continue. And I want to thank you for all you’ve done for the people of New York City.

When we think about the 31 months – we came into office all of us together with the goal of doing two things that many said could not be done at the same time – driving down crime while repairing some of the rift between police and community. We said both of those things have to happen. We knew it was a tough road.

Wherever Bill Bratton has gone, he’s worked on both those fronts. And he had an extraordinary Chief of Department in Jimmy O’Neill to help find a path that would take us to some of the lowest crime we’ve ever seen in the history of this city, while at the same time righting some of the wrongs of the past – fixing a broken policy of stop-and-frisk, changing the relationship between police and community, precinct by precinct. That work has a long way to go – I want to emphasize that. But I don’t think any of us could have imagined a more productive 31 months. I don’t think any of us could have imagined more done in such a short period of time. And these gentlemen and the wonderful colleagues – the rest of the senior leadership – has done an extraordinary job. And by the way, one thing that’s been a hallmark of Bill Bratton and I know is something that Jimmy O’Neill believes in deeply is a sense of a team – a team that works together, a team where everyone gets to shine, everyone matters. It’s brought out the best in the NYPD leadership, up and down the line. And that’s one of the reasons you see this extraordinary success.

We remember what the city used to be like. A lot of us lived it – over 2,000 murders a year, disorder was common. Quality-of-life offenses almost went without notice, they were so common.

Bill Bratton and Jack Maple, may he rest in peace, changed that for all of us but there was so much more to be done with that model. It wasn’t enough to just end the bad. We had to start working toward the good, towards our status as the safest big city in America, towards the goal of real harmony between police and community. That’s work, again, we’ve come a long way – much more to be done.

But when you go back and you think about those days in the early ‘90s with this man and his – not partner-in-crime Jack Maple, that’s the wrong phrase – his partner-in-fighting-crime, Jack Maple, believed something different could happen.

They had a vision that many doubted. They had a vision that was big and different. They believed. They had faith. They were willing to go were people hadn’t gone before.

You’re going to see the same from Jimmy O’Neill when it comes to neighborhood policing. He is ready to take this department where it’s never been before in terms of a truly deep and consistent bond between police and community. It’s an idea. It’s been talked about for decades. It’s never been achieved on a sustained basis. But this is the man who will achieve it, and that is very good news for the people of New York City.

Neighborhood policing continues to grow. We are rolling it out in 51 percent of our precincts this fall, and we will continue from there. And you’ll see what it means in the lives of everyday New Yorkers – when they actually know the officer who patrols their part of their neighborhood, when they know the officer’s name, where they have a sense of personal connection, neutral respect, shared mission – that’s going to change this city for the better.

Jimmy is the real thing in every way. First of all, he comes from some place I like to call, the one-true borough, Brooklyn – born and bred – Flatbush, Brooklyn. And that upbringing – which he’ll talk about, I’m sure – growing up in the city, learning about the people of this city from the beginning of his life, brought up by a wonderful family that instilled in him values of service, and then joining the NYPD 33 years ago as a Transit officer.

And we were talking last night about the fact that Transit officers, they get to know New York City shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of New York City – every kind of New Yorker, up close and personal – gives them a special perspective.

Jimmy kept the people of this city safe one tour at a time, and then he started to rise. He was noticed early on by great leaders of the Department like Bill Bratton. He rose through the ranks, commanded precincts, worked narcotics-fugitive enforcements, trained future officers at the Police Academy – he did so many of the crucial roles in the Department, and along the way built tremendous relationships with leaders of this city, and great sense of neutral respect. And I hear it from them all the time, their appreciation for the way Jimmy O’Neill communicates with them, shares his thoughts and vision, listens to their concerns.

Commissioner Bratton understood what Jimmy could bring to the equation as he built this extraordinary leadership team, as he thought about how to take CompStat to the next level. And Jimmy’s been intimately involved in the further deepening of that extraordinary model.

And as the architect of neighborhood policing, he’s creating a model that I believe we’re going to make work here. I believe it’s going to change this city. I believe it’s going to become a model that’ll be looked at around the country because it really answers what people are aching – everyone’s aching for it. People in neighborhoods just want to be safe, they want to have a sense they are respected, they want to walk out the door in the morning know they’ll be safe, come home at night. And our police officers want the exact same thing. They want to be able to say good bye to their families in the morning, come home safely at night. They want respect for the good work they do for us. They want to contribute. That’s why they chose this profession. Neighborhood policing is the model that allows that to finally happen the way it was meant to.

And the many, many New Yorkers, when I talk to them say, we remember the cop on the beat, we remember the officer we knew – the guy who knew everyone of us, knew every parents, every child. We yearn for those days. We want to see today’s version of that. That’s what Jimmy O’Neill will create in this city.

Well, I know this is a job for a strong man. I know it is a job for someone with a real vision – a vision of change and reform and progress. Like I always said about Bill Bratton, who never has ever rested on his laurels to the benefit of all is, Jimmy O’Neill burns with a passion to keep making things betters, to keep finding the next innovation. And he is going to be an extraordinary leader for this Department.

I want to introduce to you the next Police Commissioner for the City of New York, Jimmy O’Neill.

[Applause]

Chief James O’Neill, Incoming Police Commissioner: It’s not true, Irish people do hug once in a while. 

[Laughter] 

Good afternoon, everyone, and thanks for being here. Thank you Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bratton for your confidence in me, it’s truly astounding. It’s been an amazing 16 hours. Never in my life, coming on this job in 1983 did I think I’d be standing at the podium talking to everybody as the next police commissioner. Thanks for allowing the men and women of the New York City Police Department under your guidance to do what they do best and that’s being effective cops. Thank you to all of the officers at the NYPD, every rank from three-start chief down to cops who allowed me and helped me get to where I am today. Without them I’d be nothing. Thank you to all of the elected officials and the clergy members and all who live and work in the 2-5 and the 4-4 who have become true friends and guides through my career.

Over the past two and a half years, I have had the absolute privilege to work closely with the Mayor and the Commissioner to help shift this nation’s largest police department away from a style of policing the City that sometimes lost focus of the most important aspect of safeguarding the public – lowering crime but not at the expense of losing the vital support of the people that were sworn to protect themselves. I can tell you firsthand the Mayor has given the NYPD everything we have asked for and everything we have needed to change our posture and to get on the right course, whether its Vision Zero, which has focused on awareness for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike, all in the name of saving lives or adding manpower to our ranks for the first time in a decade, thanks to the Mayor and the City Council. Or purchasing necessary tools to make our officers’ job safer and more effective – but most importantly, steadfastly backing us in our efforts to improve this great city.

While many might think that being named the next Police Commissioner might be the culmination career of an old transit cop like me – sometimes I do feel old, but I can tell you that I see this as an invitation to continue the unique chance for us to advance and see through to fruition all of the great work we put in motion over the past 31 months and Commissioner Bratton thank you for that. Those of you who’ve known me for a while know that I love being a cop. I love this uniform, I love what it stands for. Most of the people I know in law enforcement took this job for the same reason I did: to lead lives of significance. They wanted to make a difference in the world. They wanted to help make this an even better city and help all New Yorkers achieve a quality of life we can all be proud of. When I was a rookie cop patrolling the subways in 1983 it was a different City in many ways. But I think the people back then still had the same dreams that we have; we just want to lead good lives, be productive and take care of their families. My mom Helen, who is sitting in the front row with my sister Sheila, she might remember this. When I first came on the job they had us work eight at night to four in the morning. It was called TPF, Train Patrol. I learned quickly how to be a cop, how to be aware of your surroundings, how to navigate the maze of subway lines, but most importantly, how to talk to every type of person imaginable. I remember vividly the look of relief on many people’s faces when they’d see me – a cop, a little bit more hair back then, standing on the same platform or riding in the same car as them. Not a lot of people back then really wanted to ride the subway between eight at night and four in the morning but they did so to get back and forth to work, to provide for their families and to improve their [inaudible] in life and they were happy to see a uniform cop because they felt safer. It was inspiring for a young cop. And now nearly 34 years later, it’s the same feeling today for the young men and women that’s in uniform all around the five boroughs. We are here for you, the people of this city.

Later as I became a precinct commander, my horizons were broadened and I learned exactly how valuable and how fragile at times this relationship between law enforcement and the community actually is. Let me tell you – this is truly a shared effort, a shared responsibility. Our success as a police department, as a society wins only when we work together. With the help of every New Yorker we will continue facilitating all the good that is done daily by law abiding residents in our neighborhoods while we work to erase the pockets of violence as they emerge. That’s our obligation.

And know this – we’re very much aware that the majority of violent crime in the city is perpetrated by a relatively small percentage of the population. I’ve spoken to all of you about this before. This is something that Dermot and I concentrate not every Thursday morning, but every day. We know who these people are, and we will continue to go right after them as we have done over the past two and a half years in some of the largest takedowns we’ve ever conducted. As with enforcement, we will continue relentless follow up. We will do all this while keeping the city safe from the ever-changing threat of terror. It’s a different world. You’re already aware of our new Strategic Response Group and our Critical Response Command. Always at the ready, those officers are amongst the best trained in the nation to respond to any emerging threats in the city including an active shooting situation. They work hand in hand every day with our counterterrorism and intelligence bureaus, which are second to none. Policing also includes ensuring that people can safely demonstrate of course, and the NYPD does it better than no one else. I’m in full support of advocacy groups and everyone’s right to peacefully protest. It’s what democracy and America are all about, and it’s our job to ensure that right. The protests in the fall of 2014 signaled that change was necessary. With the brutal assassination of Joe Liu and Raphael Ramos in Brooklyn that December it was clear the NYPD had to evolve and find a new way forward to meet the needs of every New Yorker. That’s when our neighborhood-based policing initiative was really born. This October, our neighborhood-based policing program, which is very much a crime fighting tool, will be in more than half of our commands citywide and in 100 percent of our public housing commands. Knowing who your police officers are – especially what their names are, and if you’re dealing with an NCO you also have their phone number at your disposal – is one way to strengthen the bond that already exists in many places and bridging the divide where it doesn’t. I mentioned my mom earlier –

– It’s hard to talk about you. She really was the one who taught me the ideals of what good cops should aspire to. Because of her I learned we can change the world into what we want it to be and that life is much, much more than just about oneself. It’s about all of us. Thank you, Mom.

Mayor: Amen.

[Applause]

O’Neill: I never thought it would be that hard to talk about you. I talk about you all the time!

[Laughter]

That’s not to – I can’t forget about my older sister Sheila. She’s been my guru for my whole life. She’s always pointing me in the right direction, so thank you Sheila. It’s about all of us, and today in New York City we’re at record lows in terms of homicides and shootings, and by year’s end we’ll have a great chance at logging the fewest indexed crimes ever recorded in a single year. That’s truly historic. You need to take a second and think about that. But that doesn’t mean we stop. We never stop trying to drive down crime and quell disorder, and we’re going to do it in lock step with the people we’re dedicated to protect. It is after all what we do now.

I want to thank the Mayor and Police Commissioner again for having the trust and confidence in me to continue shepherding the extraordinary changes that we put in motion and help the NYPD continue to evolve – and we must always evolve – and New York City continue to be the place we’re all proud to live and work. Thank you very much.

[Applause]

So I’ve had all of sixteen hours to think about the way forward and there were a couple of easy decisions for me, and one of them was to ask my good friend Ben Tucker, the First Deputy Commissioner to stay on and help this city move forward. So, Ben, thank you for that, and I’ll ask you to come up.

First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker: It’s Jimmy. I said, I know it’s you, your name is on the phone – it’s Jimmy. 

[Laughter]

He says – I just want to know, you are hanging around, right? And I said, absolutely I’m hanging around. I came here – and I’m hanging around because Jimmy and I sort of have this synergy from the time we connected when I came here back in March of 2014. And I got the call from Commissioner Bratton – and, by the way, thank you for that call because it changed my life – it put me back into policing after having been gone from the NYPD for 24 years when I retired. And so, I came back as a Deputy Commissioner of Training. We’ve done some extraordinary work, as the Mayor alluded to, in a variety of ways. There’s never been, in my 46 years in the business, this much activity in a police department, particularly the NYPD, moving it in a direction that is changing the way we police the City, and it’s been amazing. And then, subsequently, nine months later – ended up being appointed the First Deputy Commissioner. So, for me, it’s been an amazing ride. I love what I do, and when Jimmy asked the question, I mean, the words came out right away – of course I’m hanging around. I wouldn’t leave. Although we’ve accomplished a great deal, we have a lot more work to do. Our crime is down – the numbers are down – they look great and we’ll probably have a wonderful year. On the other hand, our relationship with the community is still challenged. We know it and we recognize it, and everything that we’ve done in the past 33 months – 30 months has been focused on how we improve and build trust – or rebuild the trust. And so, we continue on that path. The mission is not over. And so, I’m looking forward to serving with Jimmy. When I came in, Commissioner Bratton – and I became a First-Dep – he said, I want you to be a full partner is running this agency. Jimmy shares that same perspective and I’m looking forward to being a full partner with Jimmy O’Neill. I know we can work together and so some amazing things and do the work for the City that we know has to be done. 

So, Jimmy, congratulations, my man.

Chief O’Neill: Thanks, pal.

[Applause]

So, if you notice one thing about Ben – I’m really going to have to up my game when it comes to suits, Ben.

[Laughter] 

Deputy Commissioner Tucker: I know a guy.

[Laughter]

Chief O’Neill: I have a couple but not as nice as that. So, with moving up to the position of Police Commissioner, that does create a bit of a vacancy – my old job as Chief of Department – and it didn’t take me long to figure out who I wanted to fill that position. It’s a man that I’ve come to – I’ve known him from 14 years. I met him when I was [inaudible] 4-4 Precinct. And, right from the get-go, he was a man of integrity, hard work, and he shares the same vision that I do. Carlos Gomez is a man right for this job. He has the will to make the change. Sometimes it’s real difficult to change police departments. He has the vision to make the change. So, he’s a great friend, he’s a great leader, and I’d just like to introduce Carlos Gomez as the new Chief of Department. Carlos?

[Applause]

Bureau Chief Carlos Gomez: Well, let me begin by thanking Mayor de Blasio, Commissioner Bratton for all that you’ve done for this City and this police department. The transformation that has taken place in the last 31 months is truly, truly amazing. And for a future Commissioner, Jim O’Neill – this City – this City is so lucky. Someone who cares about the cops, cares about the community, whose management style is one of teamwork, and that is what we share. And that is going to trickle down – it’s going to trickle down from the top, from the Police Commissioner, through me, through the Bureau Chiefs, the Borough Commanders – it’s going to trick down, all the way down to the police officers – the newest police officers, the newest rookies. And who benefits? The entire City, the community will benefit from this. It’s a great honor to oversee all uniformed members in the nation’s largest and finest police department.

This city is truly blessed in that is has the most hardworking, very dedicated, and best trained police officers patrolling the street. And when I say police officer, I mean from the newest rookie in field training all the way up to our experienced and talented Bureau Chiefs. My task will be to have our officers work together as a team with the communities that we serve to protect us from the threat of terrorism, also to continue to reduce crime, especially violent crime, and, as Chief O’Neill said, that is committed by such a small segment of our communities. We don’t care [inaudible] anymore, we just focus on those spoiled, rotten apples, the few of them. And, of course, we must work on our community relations. And so much has been done and will continue to be done with that regard. Chief O’Neill – and soon-to-be Commissioner O’Neill – designed the neighborhood-based policing, which is in place in 32 commands in this city as we speak. And, of course, I want to support our greatest asset, and those are our officers, our officers of all ranks in this department. I want to make sure they’re safe. I want to make sure they’ll well equipped. I want to make sure they’re trained. And I want to recognize them for their efforts, I want the community to know the good deeds that they do each and every day. As Police Commissioner Bratton always says, I want to tell their story.

[Inaudible] we’re better prepared to combat terrorism. We’re better, more precise in the way we fight crime, focusing on those few individuals. And the technology is second to none. So, I have big shoes to fill –

Chief O’Neill: They’re only size 11.

[Laughter]

Chief Gomez: Thank you very much.

[Applause]

Mayor: Well done. Well, I just want to say in addition to my tremendous faith in Chief O’Neill, I’ve had just the extraordinary pleasure of working with First Deputy Commissioner Ben Tucker and Chief Carlos Gomez. We’ve all been a team together. This is something, again, I can’t say enough about Bill Bratton’s understanding of teamwork. But so many days in this room that we had meetings we called one-on-one’s, but they’re actually more like 12-on-12’s with everyone collaborating together, thinking together – meetings at One Police Plaza. So many times we’ve been out in the community, in good times and bad, collaborating, thinking, huddling together. So, this leadership group – we have all bonded very, very personally. There’s such trust. I said in one point in the discussions over the last day – I said it has become a situation like a great basketball time where they can do the no-look pass. We feel that strong connection. We know what each other thinks, we know how to work together. And, I have to tell you, I want to give Ben Tucker such tremendous credit for the extraordinary work that’s happening in the training and re-training of our police force. It’s one of the x-factors. It’s one of the things that will change our police force and our relationship with the community the most, and it’s working. And I want to give Chief Gomez tremendous credit for what he has done. He’s one of the people who’s really [inaudible] built that neighborhood policing model, made it something that will take root and be strong and sustainable in the City. He understands so intimately what it’s going to take. So, this is a team that is ready-made to work together to succeed. And, boy, what an extraordinary combination – a proud son of Flatbush, a proud son of Bed-Stuy, and a proud son of Jackson Heights together, all of whom came up through the ranks, all of whom learned from the perspective of patrol officer, but all of whom brought with them their experience as members of a family, of a community – and this is an incredible leadership group for the future of the NYPD. 

Now, I think this guy gets to talk too. Let me tell you – and again, I will just – I wish I had words – I wish I had words for what this man has achieved. I think you could spend years and years researching and analyzing – you won’t get it all. But one thing that doesn’t get talked enough about with Bill Bratton is his heart, because he builds these extraordinary teams because people know – they see how much he believes, how much he cares. And he’s taught me a lot. He ha been an extraordinary partner. And, you know, it’s a beautiful thing when you can once again make a place safer and better, and then build a leadership team who can take that vision to the next level. So, we understand a person gets to make a choice to retire, but, I want you to know, we’ll always be blessed to feel your presence here. We’ll always feel connected to you and thankful to you. And, you know, now that you’re going to the private sector, you could buy me dinner once in a while.

[Laughter]

We can hang out. 

Commissioner Bratton: [Inaudible]

Mayor: Now you can afford to.

[Laughter]

Ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner Bill Bratton.

[Applause]

Commissioner Bratton: There are many proud sons up here at this podium, four born and raised in New York. I’m a proud son. I grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts with two of the best parents any person could’ve have ever hoped to have had. Bill and June Bratton, and I really wish they could’ve been here to see this day as I continue my odyssey, and they helped to shape it and frame it. But I’d like to think of myself like half of the population of New Yorker as a proud adopted son of this extraordinary and great city. And one that I have been pleased and privileged to have now – on three different occasions – have worked very hard to make a safer place for all of us adopted or otherwise. Before I begin my prepared remarks, I’d like to – excuse me – make a few thank you’s at the appropriate time.

First and foremost, to my lovely wife Ricki Klieman who once again upset her life to allow me to pursue the passion of my life, and that passion is policing and its importance to all that is good in America. And so 31 months ago, once again, she allowed me to respond to the great offer that was being made to me by this great mayor. So Ricki my love, thank you, and quite a ride and it will continue to be one.

There are many to thank in this room, and certainly here at the podium you see four of those. The Mayor talked about a team, and I thank him for moving as quickly as he did to recognize after 31 months of exposure that we are a team at the NYPD, but we are a team that effectively has the ability to grow and expand and move on. And it’s now time for me to move on. But with his appointment of Jimmy O’Neill, and Jimmy’s appointment of Carlos and the continuation of the extraordinary Ben Tucker, this city – this department – will have a seamless transition, and there has never been a time in American policing history when that has been more important than now. Because as we go forward and face the crisis of race in America, crime in America, fear of terrorism, and in the midst of the turmoil of this presidential election, there is no police department in America that will be better prepared to face all that you are going to have to face in the future. Again, before my prepared remarks I’ll continue with those thank you’s.

To this Mayor – this extraordinary mayor – that has been truly a partner, a friend, and a leader. That we have bonded together – I have often said that we are seamless – that we have a passion for what government can do, what policing can do. I think collectively he and I, we share in the vision that he has, and he’s sharing in the vision I have – and surrounding ourself will people who add to that vision – I think we have in fact over these last 31 months done so much. I’ll speak more in a few moments on that. So, Mr. Mayor thank you for all that you do, in your friendship – and that friendship will continue. One of the great things about leaving this time was that 20 years and three months ago I stood at this podium with another mayor, another team at that time. The late great Jack Maple – the extraordinary Jack Maple – John Timoney who is now battling cancer unfortunately, John Miller and a few others. The Mayor and I exchanged gifts – Mayor Giuliani at the time – one of the gifts he gave me was a key to the city. Didn’t tell me he’d already changed the locks.

[Laughter]

So for the next 20 years I was locked out in some respects of this city and this police department. And when I came back, the Mayor gave me a new key, and it allowed me to come back into the city I love, and particularly the police department I love and have such a passion for. Mr. Mayor, thank you for that. There are several people in this room that I certainly have to acknowledge, and I can’t acknowledge them all because there are so many. Some are known to you, some are not. One known to only some of you, Bob Wasserman, who’s hiding in the background as he always does. Forty years ago as Chief of Operations for the Boston Police Department took a young sergeant, an aspiring young sergeant, and began moving me up the rungs of leadership in the American police profession, exposed me to so many outside ideas. The term neighborhood policing was created by him – the neighborhood policing model that we created together in Boston, which is now being modeled here in New York by Jimmy and Carlos. Bob in many respects is an unsung hero of American policing. He’s been with me every step of the way for these 40 years, so Bob I cannot thank you enough for all that you’ve done for me. John Miller who will also continue as Chief of Counterterrorism and Intelligence, thank god because there is no person….

Because there is no person better prepared to help protect this city and this country. And Jimmy has already had that conversation with John and John will basically also agree to stay on. So much of the team, and many of them here, I can’t acknowledge all of them. I think also because of the close bond that we have and I have tried to build a team, not a team of rivals, but a team that share a vision and Jimmy certainly has surrounded himself with others that he would bring into the mix to strengthen what we already have. There are so many to thank and I can’t belabor it this afternoon, I will do that personally and individually with so many who are in the room and others who are not.

When I came back to the NYPD just over two and a half years ago I had a mandate. I had a mandate from this man, this Mayor. We had bonded in terms of conversations and many months during the election and we shared the vision of what the great American police department could do to face the issues of the day. In this city, you all remember very well, the tension, controversy in this city and indeed in America – to build upon a foundation that began more than 20 years ago that was the shared vision. When I along with Jack Maple, John Chimney, John Miller began to apply a new kind of science, a new kind of rigor to policing—one that said that cops count, police matter – and I believe that deeply. The individual action of every cop but the collective action of the police profession – we matter. And never in the history of this City had that been more important than at this time, in this city and in this country. That we can be the change, it is now a proven concept, policing, we have fulfilled that mandate to keep crime low – historic lows in order to keep driving it even lower by improving strategies, constantly adapting them to changing times to driving crime further to historic lows. We have done that and this new team will continue to do that – have no fear.

The second part of the mandate given to me by the Mayor was to build upon the foundation that started under Commissioner Kelly to protect New York City from terrorism. We’ve added additional foreign posts staffed by NYPD officers in an innovative and elite uniform counter terrorism force, the CRC, within 500 cops highly trained, deployed trained and ready to respond to any terrorist attack in a way that no other city can within five to seven minutes of any event. Great thanks to John Miller for all that he gave up to combat into public life once again, and for all that he has contributed over these last now three years and will continue to contribute. We may want to look back to the announcement of this appointment three years ago, a number of you in this room belittled that appointment, belittled his experience, his expertise and I think John has proven you all wrong. He is one of the most respected people in the world today on that issue. You should feel yourself very lucky that you have him and you get to report about him. A third mandate which has improved the safety and preparedness of our officers; I look back to the poor training I have received as a young officer and how on so many occasions it jeopardized my life and the life of others. While [inaudible] began, impress upon the importance as director of the Boston Police Academy, the need to train people properly and we have shown over these 30 some-odd months the Mayor and I, our commitment to that along with the City Council. They are now, better equipped – our police officers and better protected than at any other time in history and arguably better than any other police department in America. There is a new police smartphone that allows one access to criminal records, wanted flyers of missing children [inaudible] to protect chemical and biological attacks but also  [inaudible]. New heavy vests and ballistic helmets and ballistic doors and ballistic windows on our vehicles. We have made it clear that when we seek out vests that we can acquire and purchase to assure the safety of our officers so they can assure the safety of each and every one of you. The eight and one-half million people who live here, the three million people who come in here every day  to work and the 60 million tourists who come here to experience the greatness of this American city. The Mayor and I care, first and foremost, about the safety of those that we count on to keep us all safe. 

[Inaudible] has been the most challenging because it’s about more than strategy, [inaudible] equipment or a headcount – let me speak briefly to that. For the first time in 12 years, this Mayor, this City Council increased that headcount by 1,300, but also by hiring 600 additional cadets, by the hiring of hundreds of more civilians that’ll allow us to put many more police officers back into the field to staff the CRC, to stay the SRG, to staff the neighborhood policing and Carlos and Jimmy are so committed to. I couldn’t have done it without his support and leadership, and that of the Council supporting us. Additionally, if you add up all that has been given to this police department over these last now two years – not over 30 months – for two years – it comes to about $1.9 billion. No police department at any time in any of their history has ever been as well funded or supported as we have to buy all of that equipment, to provide all of that training, to ensure that our officers – that we keep them as safe as we can and they keep you as safe as you need to be. 

We have begun that job from top to bottom. For our officers, it involves new training about how to deescalate situations. We’ve reduced stop and frisks by phenomenal amounts – said it couldn’t be done. We continue to reduce crime at the same time. We have reduced our use of force, our civilian complaints, and we launched the most innovative and far-reaching community policing program New York has ever attempted, and it will succeed this time. Why? They’re here – the team that will lead it into the future. 

New innovation – neighborhood policing – something old – Boston, 1975 – new again, New York City, 2015, when we launched it – the brainchild of Jimmy O’Neill. One of Jimmy’s great strengths is that he loves this Department and this City with a passion, but he understands we don’t have all the answers. So, I have sent him to Los Angeles, I have sent him elsewhere in the country to understand that other agencies as they struggle with the issues of the day have better ideas. And so, what we have here in New York now is an amalgamation of Boston, of Los Angeles, of Seattle, and the NYPD. He and the team that he will be privileged to lead understand that we have a lot to be proud of, but so do others in the profession. Neighborhood coordination officers that [inaudible] with people, problem by problem with community groups, issue by issue with entire neighborhoods. They’re reachable by smartphone, email, by telephone on those smartphones. They are available, they want to help, they are there to help. 

We’ve tried to redefine our relationship from being the police to being your police – that term’s probably familiar to some of you. When the Mayor announced me, I held up my book, I should have brought it. Your police – to protect and to serve to make New York City safe and fair everywhere for everyone. But also, as [inaudible] talked about in this last page, when you see a policeman – and this is our goal – when you see a policeman, remember, that he is your friend. That’s the vision and the passion that I have had for 45 years that they share up here and that they all carry forward. And that is happening, but it doesn’t happen overnight. It is a sea change in many respects, and we’ve already seen the tide shift in that direction. 

It is a challenging time for police in America, and New York, even with all indicators pointing in the right direction. Those were the mandates I was given, those were my goals, but I always had one more goal in every organization I go to, and that is to build a team for success and to achieving successes. I try to leave each place with the bus headed in the right direction, with the right people on the bus, and, before I go, three or four people who are qualified to drive that bus. Abraham Lincoln was famous for surrounding himself with people he thought were smarter than he was because he knew they would make him, and his government, and his people, and his nation better. I have throughout my career, I believe, surrounded myself with the best and brightest to form a chain that can lead any organization that I’ve been privileged to lead – and I have had many – and now, twice, this magnificent organization. I cannot thank the Mayor of New York enough for his confidence in the team that he has worked with over these past three years to understand the importance of a seamless transition. And, today, you are seeing that.

So, Mr. Mayor, thank you. 

[Applause] 

Mayor: I don’t think there are any questions. I think we covered it all. Dave?

Question: Mayor, thank you. [inaudible] When commissioner did you let the mayor know, and what changed between a couple of weeks ago when you told us how you’d like to stay until the end of the term and now? Why? Why now?

Mayor: July 8th was the day the Commissioner let me know, and we had a heart-to-heat – a very personal discussion about life and family. And, you know, I like him so much it was the kind of conversation where you want to say – what about the team? But he has served so much, you know, this city, this nation. And as he said – it was a great phrase – what’s that? The right time?

Commissioner Bratton: There’s never a good time, but there’s a right time. For me this is both a good time for all that we have accomplished, and it’s the right time for me personally, my wife and I.

Mayor: That’s the discussion we had. And I am his friend first, and I’ve heard quite clearly that it was important to him to pursue other opportunities that would be good for his future, and we agreed that we would work together to come up with the team for the future and do it quickly. Here we are today.

Question: So the ongoing police probe, the protest, none of that has anything to do with this?

Mayor: No. Let me, and then I’ll pass to the commissioner – 110 percent has nothing to do with this. Everyone has known – because the commissioner has been very open about it – that he had a vision for his time here, at different points –  it’s had minor variations – but give or take it was the first term. And the people have to make a decision obviously about whether we all get to continue this work, but I think it’s been clear from the beginning. I understand fully when an opportunity comes along, and we’re not going to go into details today about what that opportunity is, but that will come out soon – but when an opportunity comes along, an opportunity comes along. You have to respect that about someone you care about and trust and respect. But it’s something that – what I love is what the commissioner said at the end of his remarks because we’ve talked about this for 31 months, the development of a team, the development of a deep bench, people who will be ready to step up into different roles. And one of the – this is a really important statement about him as a human being – the level of personal, human security he has. We’ve talked openly about the talent and how it would progress over time many, many times. It’s not a conversation that started – that conversation didn’t start July 8. That conversation started in 2014. We knew the day would come. There would be a moment that was right for him, and there would be many, many good and talented people ready to move up in this department, and I know that for a fact because I’ve had the honor of serving shoulder-to shoulder with these good men and many, many other good people.

Commissioner: On July 8 you may recall we had done the six months summary of how the six months had gone, and I think finally some of you in the media had come to recognize just how much change – positive change – had occurred. I took the opportunity – the Mayor being in such a good mood at that press conference – that he then came into my office, and I informed him that I would be leaving, that I would be retiring in mid-September to pursue other opportunities. After I picked him up off the floor and brought him on my couch –

[Laughter]

–  that we had a two hour conversation and talked about where I was going and why, talked about transition and the need to do exactly as we’ve done here, to move it forward very quickly, that he understood the team he had helped to build in terms of allowing me the freedom to bring in this talent. And the issues about whether it’s the ongoing corruption investigation, it is ongoing but it is being done intimately with coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s office, so that’s not a reason to leave. We have strong partners there, and if you ask Preet I’m sure he will tell you just that. The relationship with every federal agency in the city, there has never been a relationship as good. Even with the Council that we’re at odds at from time to time as you recently saw – we had the ability over time after a year of discussion to come to common ground. Last night, John Miller and I had dinner with all of the heads of those agencies and the U.S. Attorney, something we do regularly that we have seamless coordination with them. The issues of public safety are too important to be fighting with anybody. So as I leave, I am very comfortable that part of the mandate I came in here to do was to improve the relationships with the agencies you have to work with, our new City Council, our new Mayor. Policing is always about the next crisis – that’s why I say there’s never a good time as you wait around [inaudible] you have a crisis. But, here’s the group that can handle that because they’ve been involved in dealing with every crisis. There are more people in my department that have top secret clearances because they sit in on all of Miller’s intelligence briefings. They sit in on all of the internal affairs briefings, the extraordinary Joe Resnick gives as he deals with the issues of corruption. Joe is as intimate with that investigation as the U.S Attorney is because he’s been so involved with it. Similarly, the issue of race and community relations – we are on a journey but it’s no journey unique to New York City, it’s a crisis in America at this moment. The national election is revolving around it, but I would argue that we are farther along in New York City than most places – to me the training that we are giving our officers, the increase in our department, the tools that we get to work with and the commitment – the neighborhood policing plan that Jimmy and Carlos have been so intimate in designing. So, there’s no reason I am leaving at this time and leaving with reluctance. I wish I had more time chronologically to stay around for three or four years to work on the issues that are going to take that long to straighten out. I don’t have that type of time. And again as the Mayor had indicated that I’ve received an offer that for me and my wife is extraordinarily exciting and one that I think that we can look forward to. But I also look forward to the fact that this time, I will have the keys to the city, I will have a relationship with this Mayor going forward with many close friends that I can now openly meet with and interact with. I will be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor over these last 31 months so I am moving because it is the right time.

Mayor: One second, one second. No, he can’t is the answer he will do that in due time.
I would like to acknowledge and thank for all the support she’s has given us. I know her great friendship with Jimmy O’Neill, the Chair of the Public Safety Committee in the City Council Vanessa Gibson, thank you so much for joining us. All right, additional questions, yes?

Question: Commissioner Bratton, were you actively looking for another job or did someone approach you with an offer you couldn’t say no to?

Commissioner Bratton: I’ve had the good fortune of having several offers over the last several years and again, very shortly, I will make you aware of where I am going and I think you will fully appreciate that when you are aware of that why I chose to accept this one at this particular time.

Question: Are you staying in New York City?

Commissioner Bratton: That was a primary condition to allow me to stay in the city that Rikki and I – it’s our adoptive home, it’s what we love, it’s where we want to be.

Question: Commissioner you talked about your achievements and what you considered the achievements of the NYPD over these last several years. What do you think of as unfinished business that you would have liked to have seen accomplished?

Commissioner Bratton: Thank you for the second part of your comment. It’s not my achievement; it’s the collective achievement of the leadership team here at City Hall and in the department but mostly, the men and women, the cops and the civilians. And I have tried to expose you all to that leadership team; Bob Boyce, and Carlos and Jimmy, they do the press conference as Dermot Shea. The unfinished business here is exactly what Jimmy has outlined – how do we take this extraordinary organization that has now been resourced to take us forward to meet the issues that America is facing today? The mistrust of the criminal justice system, particularly by minority communities; the immigration issues that are still paramount at the moment; the anger directed at our Muslim community [inaudible]. I believe in New York City at this time are better prepared than any place else in America. We’ve had so many crises we had to deal with so many experiences that I really do believe that we are positioned quicker than anybody – and the old adage – if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere? Well, in the ’90’s in New York City, the time when nobody thought anything could be done about crime, we made it, and we’ve been making it for 25 years. I believe that this department, this Mayor, will lead America forward to deal with the crises that lie ahead.

Mayor: In the back – all the way back.

Question: I was wondering how you helped prepare Chief O’Neill for this job. I know a number of times [inaudible] press conference. Secondly, Chief O’Neill, had you envisioned a world [inaudible] as Police Commissioner?

Mayor: We’ll do the second one first.

Commissioner Bratton: He’s got to grow his mustache back so he can look more like Tom Selleck.

[Laughter]

Chief O’Neill: I don’t have the hair. I’m leaving the uniform behind fortunately and unfortunately. I love it. I’ve loved it since the first day I put it on, but it’s time for bigger and better things and I just can’t wait for the opportunity to lead the great cops in this city, to make New York City an even safer place. As the Commissioner mentioned that neighborhood policing programs – the heart and soul of what I want for this great city. It would be better for the cops and it would be far better for the community if they know who is actually out there protecting and serving them every day.

Question: [Inaudible]

Chief O’Neill: What I would say to them – that community policing programs that they are probably familiar with are not the neighborhood policing model, and I think that for us to be truly effective, to have that bond, to cross that divide, it’s necessary to do it this way. I mean, we ask so much of our cops, yet we don’t give them – any of them the opportunity to get to know the people that they took an oath to protect and serve. And I think there’s [inaudible] with NCO’s. I think it’s going to go a long way to making things better in this city.

Mayor: Let me add to that.

Question: [Inaudible]

Mayor: Hold on, hold on one second. People of this city have never experienced true neighborhood policing. I want to be very clear about that – it has never happened across this city, it’s never happened on a sustained basis. Jimmy O’Neill and this team are the people who will bring us neighborhood policing for the first time, the way it was meant to be, which is one part what I referred to – borrowing from the past when the officers really knew the members of the community, knew the parents, knew the kids, but with a lot of other features – training officers in how to deescalate conflict, working on how to work together across all the background that make up this city. Some of that idealized vision of the past of policing often was an officer who came from the very same community, the very same ethnicity. We now have the most diverse city in the history of the world, and we want officers of all background that will serve each and every neighborhood equally well. We’re going to help them to do that with the great training that Ben and his team have put together. We’re going to help them to understand things like implicit bias that’s in all of us and can be overcome. And unlike what he used to know back in the day – everything that Commissioner Bratton has focused on – the technology, you know, the much more advanced and sophisticated approach to what CompStat began and now brought it to the officer level. That iPhone makes every officer able to take advantage of the full strength of the CompStat system in their every-day work.

So, we’ve never seen all these futures together before. We’ve literally never experienced it. The people of New York City are now going to experience neighborhood policing for the first time and it’s going to be a huge difference maker.

Question: [Inaudible]

Mayor: I think that neighborhood policing – again, it’s a strategy we have never full achieved, and it will change everything because it changes the relationship between the community and the police fundamentally. But I very much believe in quality of life enforcement. Let me be 100 percent clear, I felt this long before I had the honor of knowing Bill Bratton or any of the other great members of this team. And you guys know some of my history, and I’m very proud to be a progressive, and very proud to have done the work I’ve done in public service, but I felt it in my gut because I was here in the 1980’s, I was here in the 1990’s, and I saw what happened when quality of life issues were not addressed. And then, I saw the amazing turnaround that Bill Bratton and Jack Maple and so many others achieved. So, quality of life policing is always going to be a part of what we do, but neighborhood policing is going to change the whole playing field. So, I guess the way to think about it is, the entire dynamic will change. People are going to know each other in a whole different way to being with. And I think one of the things you’re going to see, because we already see it – Jimmy and Carlos can tell you the stories that they’ve told me – people will come up to their officers, by name, say to them, I need you help because there’s an illegal social club, because someone on the block has a gun that they shouldn’t have, because there’s about to be a problem between two gangs. And our officers are going to be able to stop crime before it happens, and they’re going to listen to what the community wants.

One other thing that’s really important, I and I think a lot of people in this room who were here in the 80’s and 90’s will understand this – it’s not just a problem of sometimes when people were “over-policed,” they felt police were too aggressive towards them. People also under-policed. A lot of communities felt that they couldn’t get help. You know, remember – a lot of you in this room will remember, you know, your car got stolen – maybe that wasn’t a high priority for your precinct because it wasn’t a bad enough crime or a big enough crime. A lot of people felt if they called they didn’t know when help would come. A lot of people in communities of color felt that they got even the shorter end of the stick in terms of that kind of response time and support. But now, fast forward to neighborhood policing where you actually know the officers who serve you. You have their cell phone number in many cases. You know that if your car got stolen or if there’s going to be some kind of problem, they want to know, and they want to help, and they want to make sure you know what happened. It’s a whole new approach. 

In the back – yeah?

Question: Mr. Mayor, just last week when I asked you about the future of the NYPD and Commissioner Bratton, you called his departure a hypothetical – certainly, that was after July 8th. I’m just wondering why you chose that word at that time. And also, how does the message being communicated to the rest of the NYPD [inaudible]? Is there any special communication being done about this transition to the members of the –

Mayor: I’ll let Commissioner Bratton speak to the second. On the first – look, when it comes to matters of personnel – and I think Ricki will join me in this statement – particularly when it’s other people’s lives, and it was bill and Ricki’s lives that were being talked about here – they needed to go through the process they were going through with the private sector entity, and I owed it to them to keep that secure. And also, as Commissioner Bratton said, you know, we were devoted to coming before you with a full team and a full vision as soon as it was time to make the announcement. So, I think of matters of personnel, there has to be discretion, and then you got to wait until the moment is right to be able to explain the whole picture to the public. On the question of orienting the Department –

Commissioner Bratton: As soon as I leave you, I imagine some of [inaudible] broadcast live, so I can guarantee a lot of members of the Department are already aware. And as soon as I get back to headquarters, I’ll be putting together the videos that will go out over the smartphones to all the cops out to the various locations. Chief O’Neill and I – soon to be Commissioner O’Neill – will be doing a joint message, a personal message. My executive staff is currently waiting in my conference room. So, we’ll go back and speak specifically to them about these issues. But we felt the obligation certainly to the public to try to do it simultaneously with the Department, with you. But now will be the time for the more intimate conversation we’ll have.

Relative to the – there was another question, if I may respond to that – this idea that – a week or so ago the New York Times had, from my perspective, a very positive profile of me – a very large profile. And when questioned about that, I was very careful with my wording when the idea of, you know, the assumption being that I would stay until the end of the term, 2017. And I made it quite clear that I would leave when I thought the time was right and that I was fortunate – I think one of the questions was about the Mayor firing me. I’ve never had a concern about being fired by this Mayor because effectively we work so well together. So, as the Mayor says, there has to be discretion on these issues to make decisions such as we just made this morning. But the Department will, as we’ve been able to do, convey information to them more speedily, more rapidly, and more comprehensively than we’ve ever done in the past. 

Mayor: As I call on you, I just want to take a little second to say – because I’m looking around the room at so many people who have been a part of this experience together over the 31 months. And, John Miller, I want to say publicly thank you for continuing to serve because it’s been an extraordinary pleasure and you're doing so much good for this city. And I know some of the team that has been with the Commissioner for years and years will be continuing with us. Some will be going onto other things, but I just want to say to all of them, because it’s important to remember our humanity in this work – what a pleasure it’s been, what an extraordinary it’s been together, and I want to thank each and every one of the folks who have been a part of this. It’s – someday I’ll get to write it down, but we all learn and grew together, and fought together, and came up with something extraordinary. 

Yes, sir?

Question: [Inaudible] talk about the last 16 hours. Can you maybe detail what’s happened over those 16 hours. And also, it’s been mentioned just how [inaudible] will remain in place. I do wonder from the Commissioner designate – how you might intend to make your mark [inaudible] with the same management.

Mayor: I’ll be very simple here and say the process – first of all, of course, as Commissioner Bratton and I said, we talked to each other on July 8th. We’ve consulted together many times since and fought about how we wanted to approach things. The people I relied on in the decision-making process here at City Hall – one of them I happen to be married to, my wife, Chirlane, and the First Deputy Mayor Tony Shorris and his Chief of Staff Dom Williams. So, we were the group that worked together to make the final decision and that decision was made late yesterday. And then I sat down with Jimmy to communicate that and to get to work on the next steps. 

Question: [Inaudible]

Chief O’Neill: You can still call me Chief. 

Question: [Inaudible]

Chief O’Neill: Thanks, James. So, coming into this, there’s one thing I want, and that’s to keep the people of this great city safe – that’s by keeping violence, homicides, and shootings down, and by keeping crime down. And the only way we can continue to do that is to bridge that gap between us and the community. And I took this job as Chief of Department in November of 2014. Everybody [inaudible] transpired early on in my position as Chief of Department, and if that wasn’t a signal that we needed to change, we needed to evolve, we needed to embrace the people that we police, I don’t know what was. If I want to accomplish anything, I just want to make sure that the cops know the community, but, more importantly, the community knows us and that we want everything that everybody else wants in this city, and that’s for everybody to be safe. 

Mayor: Marcia?

Question: Commissioner Bratton – Commissioner, you’ve been a cop for 45 years, I wonder if this is a bittersweet moment for you, and what’s in your heart as you prepare to turn in your badge for what could be [inaudible] last time?

Commissioner Bratton: It is the last time. Where I’m going I will not be in the [inaudible] that – and I have had 45 years – I’ve been privileged to have 45 years during a time of extraordinary change in my profession. It was a bittersweet moment. I wish I had more time chronologically. I wish I had many more years to stay and deal with the issues that we talked about that are facing this city, facing my profession, facing this country, but I don’t. So, I worked very hard of these last couple of years with the Mayor to – recognizing that would be a point in time, whether it’s now or a year from now, that I would leave. Policing is never done, it’s always unfinished business, and the issues that we’re facing now are going to require years to resolve. There’s no quick fixes to them. So, recognizing that, better to leave at this juncture where there is a team that is capable, that is energetic, that is creative, and that wants to engage, and you’ve met them, you know them, you’ve been exposed to them over these last 30 months. 

Mayor: We’re just going to do a few more questions. I do want to note, Marcia, you know, I’ve been at a lot of these graduation ceremonies with Bill Bratton, and he gets up there and he says, I look at every one of you and I wish I was sitting there. I wish I was the one taking the oath today. I wish I was starting all over. And some people might say that because it sounds nice oratorically – he said it with such passion. So, this is a guy who there’s no doubt if you had a time machine and he could be in the next graduating class he would take that opportunity in a heartbeat, and he would be a damn good cop by the way. But, you know, life doesn’t give us that chance.

Yeah?

Question: For Chief O’Neill – Chief, you said last week what you love most about your job [inaudible]. What changed in the last week in terms of [inaudible] Commissioner may have said to you? And how do you [inaudible]?

Chief O’Neill: Well, I think as Chief of Department – it is apolitical – not 100 percent apolitical, but I’ve worked with the Mayor now for the last two-and-a-half years, and – not always in total lockstep, but I think that’s what I do well and I know that’s what the Mayor does well, and that’s – to come up with some, sort of, decision that’s good for the City and good for the future of this place. So, I think, moving forward, I know we’re going to be able to work together and just make this city an even greater place.

Question: Commissioner Bratton, you alluded to a dinner you had last night with some of your other law enforcement partners. I’m assuming that [inaudible]. Did you drop this one them? And what was their reaction?

Commissioner Bratton: I did not. I think, as you know, we did a pretty good job keeping this kind of – in the most intrusive media in the world – we were able to keep it quiet until one hour before this press conference. No, last night was, again, every three-four months, the leadership gets together socially, and, by coincidence, it occurred last night. I was basically planning to bring Jimmy along so he knows all of them – to invite him to this dinner with the idea when this announcement was made today that they would have had the opportunity to have met Jimmy last night – not in his new capacity – but the Mayor actually was a party pooper – that Jimmy called and said the Mayor wants to see me. And, in the middle of dinner, I got the call that the Mayor wanted to see me. And so, I had an interrupted dinner also. So, Jimmy will now take my place at the next meeting or the next dinner with all of them. 

Mayor: I will say personally – and I mentioned it to some of the team who took great inspiration from the next President of the United States, and how she and her team handled the Vice Presidential selection process, which was perfectly secure until the moment they were ready to announce Tim Kaine. So, I think in personnel matters that’s really necessary, and everyone involved honored that deeply, as I said, especially when it involved people making their decision for their own personal lives. We really set that bar high – that we want it to be a very discreet process and that it was a very good and healthy process that let us to the right place.

Okay, just a few more. Go ahead. 

Question: For Commissioner Bratton – Commissioner, do you plan on maintaining some kind of relationship with the NYPD? And, if so, how?

Mayor: I’ll invite him to all the parties. 

Commissioner Bratton: No, seriously, in terms of – for almost 20 years I didn’t get to go to any of the functions and events – wasn’t invited and probably would not have been on the part of [inaudible] not welcome. I fully expect that I’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of my labor over these last three years and the last time I was Commissioner. They’re not only professional colleagues, they’re friends. I think you’re familiar with the term, band of brothers? Well, I’ve got a band of brothers and sisters that I intend to carry forward from this experience – personal relationships. I promised [inaudible] last night that [inaudible] but I’m gone. If you want to call, fine, I’ll be there, but I have other pursuits that I’m going to follow and they don’t involve the New York City Police Department, or policing in general. And so, new opportunities, new challenges. So, he’s not going to have me looking over his shoulder. I might when we get out to dinner once a month or so, maybe gripe or groan about something, but, otherwise, he’s on his own. 

Mayor: For one, that proves you’re a true New Yorkers. Two, what was it? He doesn’t have any hair to –

Unknown: To stay out of.

Mayor: That was good – to stay out of. That’s a quotable quote. 

David?

Question: [Inaudible] 

Chief O’Neill: So, I’m 16 hours into this. This will all be part of the transition and then we’ve got a little time to think about what we need to do as far as staffing. I’ve got some positions I need to fill, so that will all be part of the process. 

Mayor: You know, respectfully, David, someone’s private life is their private life, and I would think you would want that respect too. So, he’s been made an offer by a private firm. When he and that firm are ready to announce it, they will.

Last question – so many wonderful to choose from – way in the back.

Question: [Inaudible]

Chief Gomez: I am fluent in Spanish, but I have to say it’s a first grade level. I, you know, immigrated – my English is only slightly better, alright? I immigrated from Cuba at a young age. I spoke Spanish solely to my father, but, you know, I certainly could get by if I have to. But, yes,a very diverse department – as we say, it’s a minority majority as we speak, and that’s reflected at all the ranks as you see here in this room. But there’s great opportunities on this job no matter where you came from or who you know. If you maintain the course, work hard, do a little [inaudible] it could happen to anybody, whether you’re born here or you come from Cuba or any other place in this world. 

Mayor: Amen. Thank you everyone. We’re done. Thanks everyone – appreciate it. Thank you very much.