Phil McCausland
Reporting from New York City
Image source, Getty ImagesJessica Tisch stands next to New York City Mayor Eric Adams after he announces her as the next NYPD commissioner
The manhunt for the gunman who killed Brian Thompson will be the first big test for Jessica Tisch, who was just appointed commissioner of the NYPD two weeks ago.
Tisch once led the department’s technology division as a deputy commissioner, and she helped created the Domain Awareness System – a key NYPD surveillance tool – that officers will likely rely upon in the ongoing manhunt.
Tisch, the force’s second female commissioner, belongs to a prominent wealthy New York family that owns the multi-billion dollar Loews Corporation. She has held numerous positions in city politics but most recently has run the Sanitation Department since April 2022, earning high marks from Mayor Eric Adams for her efforts to clean the streets and address the city’s rat infestation.
“I need someone who can take the police department into the next century – I need a visionary,” said Adams, who was indicted on federal corruption charges earlier this year.
Tisch, who has never served as a police officer, is the fourth police commissioner under this mayor, who took office in January 2022.
Many hope that she will bring stability to the law enforcement agency, which has recently been rocked by federal investigations that caused one of her predecessors to be reassigned and another, Edward Caban, to resign.
