Esposito oversaw the city’s response to every major emergency as chief of the New York City Police Department from 2000 to 2013, before retiring after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 63. He replaces outgoing commissioner Joe Bruno, who resigned in June after serving since 2004.
As police chief, Esposito directed and controlled daily operations for five major enforcement bureaus and was instrumental in the department’s evolution from a crime-fighting organization to one with a counterterrorism mission after 9/11.
“Joseph Esposito has the good judgment to react and guide the city’s response during an emergency, and also has the experience of working as part of a team to marshal the resources of the city and execute strategies to save lives,” de Blasio said in the press release.
Esposito, who de Blasio called a legend while with the NYPD, is known for being calm and urging restraint in tense moments, according to a New York Times report. In addition to 9/11, he was deeply involved in the response to Hurricane Sandy and events like the Republican National Convention in 2004, according to The Times.
As chief of the department, Esposito directed the daily operations of patrol services, detectives, transit, and housing and organized crime control. He oversaw a 40 percent drop in violent crime during his tenure and earned praise for his leadership during and after 9/11. He was honored with some of the highest NYPD awards, including Combat Cross, the Medal for Valor and the Medal for Exceptional Merit.
Esposito began his career with the NYPD in 1968 and held every position in the department, including deputy inspector, inspector, deputy chief and assistant chief.
Irwin Redlener was also announced as a special adviser to the administration. Redlener founded the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, where he is a professor of health policy and management at the Mailman School of Public Health and a professor of pediatrics in the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
