As part of his Black History Month coverage, NY1's Dean Meminger sits down with the first black woman to be a borough commander in the NYPD's history — one who is not afraid to maintain her support for stop-and-frisk.
Assistant Chief Juanita Holmes got her first look inside Arthur Ashe stadium during our NY1 interview. Six months from now, it will be her responsibility to make sure the U.S. Open will be safe for hundreds of thousands of tennis fans.
"And it is held here in patrol borough Queens North, and it is a lot that goes with that as far as manpower, resources, and security," Holmes said.
Chief Holmes is the commanding officer of Queens North — the first black woman to be a borough commander in the NYPD's history.
"In 171 years, Dean, yes, that is accurate," Holmes said with a smile. "Although it is a great significance to be first, it is a greater significance to ensure I am not the last."
The 30-year NYPD veteran is truly a part of what you call a police family; she has five sisters and other family members who have put on a blue uniform.
"From my siblings — six total and one retired. So she is retired, but I also have my son on the job," Holmes recalled. "I have tons of cousins, I have a niece currently in the academy, a niece that works in Manhattan, in the 20 precinct, another niece pending going in."
"I have one brother currently in Brooklyn North," she added.
Being a member of an African-American police family, the issue of police-community relations hits close to home.
But when it comes to stop-and-frisk, Chief Holmes says she still supports it. In fact she testified for the NYPD during the 2013 federal trial over the tactic.
"I believe in stop, question, and frisk. It's a valuable tool, but the department has since admitted that it was probably not used in the right way," Holmes said. "It is stop, question, and sometimes frisk. That is how it should be presented."
And the chief also has a message for the immigrant communities in Queens during these confusing and stressful times for some.
"The police don't ask the question, Whether you are here legally or not," Holmes said. "If you're victim of a crime, if you need assistance in anything, feel free to come into the precinct."
Chief Holmes says she wants immigrants to feel they can trust the NYPD.