• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

NYPD’s Chief of Detectives not happy about being forced to retire

Chief James W. Essig said community policing isn’t about programs, rather, it's about showing up, being professional and doing your job.

James Essig

NYPD Chief of Detectives James W. Essig (Twitter)

August 21, 2023
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

NEW YORK – The New York Police Department’s Chief of Detectives James W. Essig is not happy about being forced from his job, something that frequently happens when a new commissioner takes over. As he prepares to make an exit, he also said the best form of community policing doesn’t involve programs, but is simply showing up, being professional and doing your job.

“When you get up this high, you serve at the pleasure of the commissioner,” Essig, 61, told the New York Post in an exclusive interview from his 13th-floor office at One Police Plaza (1PP) where he served former Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell. “Do I wish things were done differently? 100%,” he said. “But it’s happened to people before me.”

In nearly 41 years on the job, Essig worked outside 1PP throughout the Bronx and Brooklyn for 37 of those years.

Nevertheless, he is being pushed out nearly two years before the mandatory retirement age of 63. The veteran cop will call it a career when he departs Sept. 5, joining Chief of Housing Kathleen O’Reilly and Chief of Transit Jason Wilcox, who were both shown the door in December before they aged out.

“Those people dedicated their whole lives to this job,” Essig said. “They love this thing. Then, all of a sudden, they call: ‘Thirty days you’re gone.’”

Despite working inside 1PP for the past few years, Essig tried to avoid department politics during his career.

“(There are) little petty, stupid quarrels, stuff like that,” he said of headquarters. “I stood away from that for my whole career. And I’m going to walk out my head high knowing I tried to do the right thing.”

It’s noteworthy that the outgoing chief also criticized the NYPD’s version of community policing, the New York Post reported.

“It’s not, to me, having a barbecue with 100 kids,” he said. “That’s great. But how did you affect their lives? My thing is, when people call 911 or 311, you show up, you act professionally, and you do your job. That’s community policing. That’s what the people want.”

  • NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell abruptly resigns

Essig referred to his former boss, Commissioner Sewell, as a professional, saying they had a close relationship during her time as top cop.

She resigned in June, leading to widely held beliefs that she was micromanaged by Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.

“Every day I was briefing her on something and she knew what we were doing,” Essig said. “We had a great relationship.”

The outgoing chief has been married for 39 years and has two sons on the job and a daughter who’s a schoolteacher.

As his career ends, he reflected on the value of family and the importance of being present in their lives despite enormous pressure from the profession.

“If I had to come in at 11 at night, I’d come in,” he said. “I was still able to coach my kids in football and baseball. I never missed anything because your home life is more important than this. This is going to end, but I’m still going to have my wife and kids.”


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: Chief of Detectivescommunity policingJames W. EssigKeechant Sewellnypd
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Venezuelan migrant

Venezuelan migrant accused of multiple robberies shoots two NYPD officers during getaway, police say

June 3, 2024
Juliana Torsiello

Off-duty NYPD officer killed in crash

May 27, 2024
Hawk Newsome

New York BLM leader Hawk Newsome arrested at NYPD sergeant’s manslaughter hearing

May 16, 2024
NYPD detectives

NYPD detectives rescue distraught woman on ledge of 54-story building

May 7, 2024
NYPD officers

NYPD cops pack courtroom in solidarity of fallen officer

April 17, 2024
Indiana woman

NYC man charged with murder after human head found in apartment refrigerator

April 12, 2024
Load More

Latest Articles

Explosion at L.A. Sheriff Training Center Kills Three Deputies

July 18, 2025

Is Behavioral Enforcement A Path To Safer Roadways?

July 16, 2025

I’m Not Broken, I’m Dangerous

July 4, 2025

The Problem with Promotions

June 20, 2025
Melissa Hortman

Former Minnesota House Speaker Assassinated in Attack on Multiple Lawmakers

June 14, 2025

Sheriff: If You Throw a Brick At Our Deputy, ‘We Will Kill You, Graveyard Dead’

June 13, 2025
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

Protect Your Privacy

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

POPULAR GEAR

Tactical Pants

Tactical Boots

 

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2024 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2024 LawOfficer.com