NYPD groups push to promote Hispanic first commissioner as next police chief

New York Daily News
Tina Moore
Posted: Sunday, October 20, 2013, 7:49 PM

The Hispanic Society, the National Latino Officers Association and the New York Dominican Officers Organization want First Deputy Commissioner Rafael Pineiro to take over for Commissioner Raymond Kelly. Det. Dennis Gonzalez says mayoral candidates Joe Lhota and Bill de Blasio have mentioned numerous names – none of them Latino.

NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Rafael Pineiro is a favorite of Hispanic police groups to become the city’s next top cop. [Photo by: Watts, Susan/New York Daily News]

Latino and Dominican leaders in the NYPD are demanding that the next mayor appoint a veteran Hispanic officer as the city’s next top cop.

The Hispanic Society, the National Latino Officers Association and the New York Dominican Officers Organization said Sunday that they wanted First Deputy Commissioner Rafael Pineiro to take over for Commissioner Raymond Kelly in January.

“We’re calling on the next mayor to appoint a Latino police commissioner,” said Det. Dennis Gonzalez, president of the NYPD Hispanic Society.

Gonzalez said numerous names had been mentioned by candidates Joe Lhota and Bill de Blasio, but none of them are Latino.

“The question, is why not?” he said. “Is this a tale of two cities, one white and one black — Latinos not included?”

Pineiro has said the department’s stop and frisk policy was an effective policing tool.

Democratic candidate Bill de Blasio’s spokesperson responded in a statement: “If elected, [de Blasio] looks forward to building an administration that reflects the diversity of New York City.”

Lhota’s camp said he has stated publicly that Pineiro would be on his short list if Kelly decided not to stay on the job.

That short list includes Pineiro, Chief of Department Phil Banks, former Chief of Department Joseph Esposito, and former officials Joe Fox and Pat Timlin, the Lhota campaign said.