Veteran police officer Tom Donlon has been named interim chief of the New York Police Department, but the seat at the top of the nation's largest police force remains vacant — and there's no shortage of candidates for the permanent top cop position.
Mayor Eric Adams' selection of Donlon is expected to be strictly short-term, giving him the breathing space to search for a replacement for embattled retiring Commissioner Edward Cabán, and will be Hizzoner's third full-time commissioner.
Rumored candidates for the permanent police commissioner position include prominent members of the NYPD as well as senior city officials.
Adams could also choose an outsider to the NYPD, as he did when he appointed Donlon as interim chief, to avoid any potential taint to the department under Cavan, according to sources.
Jeffrey Madeley
Commissioner Jeffrey Madeley is the NYPD's top uniformed officer and will be a familiar face to many New Yorkers. He frequently briefs the public on high-profile crimes and recently earned a law degree.
But he's no stranger to controversy: An abuse of power case brought against him for interfering with the arrest of a former officer was only recently dismissed.
Kaz Daughtry
Deputy Director General for Operations Kaz Daughtry, who manages the department's drone program and other technology initiatives, recently drew attention for his role in the crackdown on anti-Israel protesters.
Insiders have previously told The Washington Post that Daughtry is an integral part of policing, with sources saying he will “literally be running the NYPD” by 2023.
Tania Kinsella
Tanya Kinsella is a double trailblazer as the police department's first female deputy chief and the first Black woman to hold the position.
Sources said Kinsella has longstanding ties to the current Adams administration and his mother is longtime friends with Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks.
Jessica Tisch
Health Commissioner Jessica Tisch was reportedly considered for the police commissioner post, but Cavan ultimately went on to take the job.
During her nearly 10 years as deputy commissioner of information technology for the NYPD, she introduced a digital daily report app to replace cumbersome, old-fashioned handwritten forms used by officers, but also revealed that the department wasted $160 million on outdated smartphones.
Juanita Holmes
Probation officer Juanita Holmes has been consistently rumored as a possible candidate for NYPD commissioner.
She previously served as patrol captain but resigned in 2023 after clashing with former top cop Keechant Sewell and Madeley.
Adams tried to keep Holmes, whom he described as “excellent,” in his administration.
“Outsider”
Sources told The Post that Adams may choose an “outsider” who has strong ties to New York City but no direct ties to the NYPD.
But with Adams choosing Donlon, the possibility of an outsider being selected was unclear.
Adams could also choose someone who doesn't attract insider interest, a tactic he implemented in 2022 when he selected Sewell, a veteran Long Island cop, for commissioner.
