Jessica Tisch was sworn in Monday as commissioner of the NYPD, becoming the second woman ever to hold the role in the department’s 179-year history.

Tisch, a longtime public servant who most recently led the city’s Department of Sanitation, is the fourth person to lead the NYPD for Mayor Eric Adams in less than three years, and the fifth person to hold the position in just five years.

What You Need To Know

  • Jessica Tisch has been sworn in as commissioner of the NYPD, becoming the second woman ever to hold the role in the department’s 179-year history

  • Tisch most recently led the city’s Department of Sanitation. Before that, she served as as head of the city’s Department of Information Technology

  • Prior to that, Tisch spent 12 years with the NYPD, starting as a counterterrorism analyst before rising to the rank of deputy commissioner of information technology

Her appointment comes after a tumultuous period marked by resignations, a federal investigation into the mayor — which resulted in an indictment — and a federal search involving her predecessor's interim replacement.

Speaking at her swearing-in ceremony at One Police Plaza, Tisch promised New Yorkers she would do her best to keep them safe.

“To the city that I serve, the police exist to eliminate fear and disorder. Your cops, like generations before them, nobly put their lives on the line each and every time they put on that uniform to protect you and your families — and they do a damn good job of it,” she said. “We will continue to do that most important, foundational work: to make you safe, to make you feel safe and improve your quality of life across this city.”

Adams announced that Tisch would be the next person to lead the police department last week. Before Adams named her sanitation commissioner in April 2022, Tisch served as commissioner of the city’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, now known as the Office of Technology and Innovation.

Prior to that, Adams said Tisch spent 12 years with the NYPD, starting as a counterterrorism analyst before rising to the rank of deputy commissioner of information technology, overseeing the agency’s 911 operations.

During her tenure as sanitation commissioner, Tisch focused on cleaning up city streets, overseeing a trash containerization initiative aimed at reducing the five boroughs’ rat population.

Meanwhile, Javier Lojan was sworn in Monday as acting sanitation commissioner, replacing Tisch, the Department of Sanitation confirmed.

Lojan, who has been with the department for 25 years, started off as a sanitation worker and worked his way to become the first deputy commissioner.