Raymond Kelly

Raymond Kelly
Name	Raymond Kelly
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Law enforcement officer, civil servant
Known for	NYPD Commissioner
Alma mater	Manhattan College (BA), St. John's University (JD), Harvard University (MPA), New York University (LLM)

Raymond Kelly. A prominent American law enforcement official and civil servant, he is best known for his historic tenure as the Police Commissioner of New York City. Serving in that role for a record twelve years under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, his leadership spanned the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks and focused intensely on counterterrorism and intelligence-led policing. Kelly's lengthy career also includes high-ranking positions in federal government, service in the United States Marine Corps, and leadership of the United States Customs Service.

Early life and education

Born and raised in New York City, he grew up in Manhattan and later Queens. He attended Archbishop Molloy High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Manhattan College. Kelly subsequently served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, including a deployment to the Vietnam War. Following his military service, he pursued graduate studies, receiving a Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law, a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a Master of Laws in trade regulation from New York University School of Law.

Career in law enforcement

He joined the New York City Police Department in 1963, rising through the ranks over two decades. His early commands included precincts in Upper Manhattan and Harlem. After serving as the First Deputy Police Commissioner, he was appointed to lead the United States Customs Service by President Bill Clinton in 1998. In this federal role, he oversaw the agency's integration of law enforcement and border security functions. Prior to this, Kelly held the position of Under Secretary of the Treasury for Enforcement and served as the Director of the International Police Monitoring mission in Haiti following the United Nations intervention.

Commissioner of the New York City Police Department

Appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2002, he became the first person to serve two non-consecutive terms as NYPD Commissioner, having previously held the post under Mayor David Dinkins from 1992 to 1994. His post-9/11 tenure was defined by a massive expansion of the department's counterterrorism capabilities, including the creation of the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau and the establishment of liaison offices in cities worldwide such as London, Tel Aviv, and Singapore. The department also implemented controversial strategies under his command, including a large-scale expansion of the stop-and-frisk policy and the creation of the Demographics Unit (Zone Assessment Unit), which conducted surveillance on Muslim communities. His leadership saw historic crime reductions, with major felony crimes falling significantly during his tenure.

Post-NYPD career and activities

After leaving the New York City Police Department in 2013, he joined the corporate world as Vice Chairman of the risk management firm Kroll Inc.. He also became a senior advisor at the Wall Street law firm Greenberg Traurig and served on the board of directors for the ShotSpotter gunfire detection company. In 2016, he published a memoir, *Vigilance: My Life Serving America and Protecting Its Empire City*. He has been a frequent commentator on security issues for media outlets like CNN and Fox News and has held academic positions, including a senior fellowship at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Personal life

He is married and has two sons. One of his sons, Greg Kelly, is a television anchor for Fox News. He maintains a residence in Manhattan and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. An avid runner, he has completed the New York City Marathon multiple times.

Awards and honors

His numerous decorations include the NYPD's Medal for Valor and the Combat Action Ribbon from his service in the United States Marine Corps. He has received the Legion of Merit and the Defense Superior Service Medal. He holds honorary doctorates from institutions including Manhattan College, St. John's University, and Marist College. In 2012, he was awarded the George Washington University's inaugural Colin Powell Medal for public service.

Category:American police commissioners Category:New York City Police Department personnel Category:United States Marine Corps officers