Former Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller was named the MTA’s chief of police Wednesday, placing the 28-year Yonkers Police Department veteran atop the 1,000-member police force responsible for the security of the transit authority’s sprawling network of commuter trains, subways, and busses.

The Yonkers police department has over 600 members on its police force, according to the city's budget. 

“We are blessed, after a pretty extensive search process, to have found someone who is not only an incredibly distinguished law enforcement professional, but who comes from the MTA region, who has led the police force for the second largest city in our MTA region, and who knows the commuter railroads,” MTA Chair Janno Lieber said at Mueller’s swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday.

“It’s no secret that we have some significant challenges in front of us. The safety of the MTA system, of mass transit in general, and of the city and the region is one of the factors that is going to determine how we come back from the pandemic,” Lieber added. 

Mueller’s appointment came with the endorsement of state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Westchester County Executive George Latimer and a former president of the NAACP’s Yonkers branch.

“John helped our residents feel safer,” said Stewart-Cousins, who represents parts of Yonkers, in a statement. “I’m happy to see John’s ascent to MTA Chief of Police, a great responsibility and honor. I can personally attest that MTA riders’ and employees’ well-being are in good hands. I wish John well in this exciting new chapter." 

A Yonkers native, Mueller spent time with the NYPD before joining Yonkers’ police department in 1994, according to the MTA. He served as police commissioner from 2019 until April of this year.