Mayor Eric Adams announced his pick Tuesday for the city's top public safety post vacated by his scandal-hit friend Phil Banks, but officials said his successor was a welcome “boring” replacement. He welcomed him as a candidate.
Chaucey Parker, who has worked in law enforcement for nearly 40 years, will become deputy mayor, the public safety position vacated after Banks resigned under intense federal scrutiny.
Mr. Parker's appointment drew rare praise in recent days amid a corruption investigation that has seen Mr. Adams face criminal charges and his cronies in high-level positions.
“If the mayor had appointed all these boring people to Start, he probably wouldn't have been indicted,” one City Council official quipped to the Post.
Mr. Banks already had some notoriety when Adams selected him as deputy mayor for public safety in 2022, a position that had not been held by a New York City mayor since David Dinkins in the 1990s.
The former NYPD officer has not been charged as a co-conspirator in the police bribery scandal, but a photo of Banks floating in the Dead Sea was introduced as evidence in the federal trial.
Banks also needed a special exemption to receive both his police officer pension and his $250,000 salary from his City Hall job.
Mr. Banks continued to argue in court as deputy mayor.
Mr. Adams' first NYPD chief, Keechant Sewell, resigned over complaints about Mr. Banks and his allies interfering with the police department, people said.
But Mr. Banks' decades-long friendship with Mr. Adams remained insulated, at least until September 4, when federal agents knocked on Mr. Banks' door and seized his electronic devices in a corruption investigation. .
After weeks of pressure to resign, including from Mr Banks' brother, school principal David Banks, Mr Banks finally handed in his walking papers on October 6.
The post was one of at least 10 high-level positions in the Adams administration without a permanent top official, amid a wave of departures as federal authorities intensified their pursuit of City Hall.
But some insiders question whether a deputy mayor is needed for public safety, given that the Big Apple already has a police chief.
“This is definitely a job that can be eliminated!” Former City Council member Sal Albanese I wrote to X. “DM for public safety is really unnecessary!”
Although there were questions about the need for the role, Parker's appointment was warmly received.
Parker, a graduate of Duke University School of Law, previously served as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan prosecutor's office and as deputy mayor's assistant to Banks.
Two sources who worked with Parker for years called him the smartest person in the Adams administration.
One person said that even though Parker is rich, he always brings a brown bag to lunch.
“We will no longer create civil servants like this,'' said a source. “He really cares about the community.”
A former NYPD official who worked with Parker called him an honorable and excellent choice.
“I would not dare anyone to say anything bad about him,” the executive said.
“He worked with Phil Banks, and Banks respected him. He's a very smart guy, a very trustworthy guy. He never got involved in any nonsense with Adams or Banks. There wasn't.”
Another council official described Parker as a consummate professional who has worked for both Democrats and Republicans.
“He's one of the good guys,” the source said.
Adams claimed at his weekly news conference Tuesday that he had fielded nine requests from people outside City Hall to fill Banks' position.
He said Parker is the best person for the job.
“I'm taking a different approach to public safety in our city, embracing all aspects of it, and Chauncey is already playing a key role in bringing together federal, state and local law enforcement.” he said.
Parker also emphasized the importance of collaboration.
“Having worked in the criminal justice field for about 40 years, I think the most important thing I've learned is: What is your North Star?” he said. “And that's the power of partnership, and when we work together we are always stronger and better.”
But the mayor gave no hint as to when he would elect a permanent NYPD commissioner. Sources said the appointment was imminent last week.
He also claimed that 22 people had expressed interest in the position, with interim commissioner Tom Donlon serving in an interim but “full-time” capacity.
“When people are on the job, they should be on the job, and that's what he's doing and that's what I expect,” Adams said. “And if anything changes, we're going to get up on this podium and announce it.”
