NEW YORK, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Dermot Shea here on Thursday promoted Juanita Holmes to NYPD chief of patrol, making her the first woman to hold the position. She is already the highest-ranking Black woman on the force.

"Chief Holmes will break the glass ceiling as the first woman in American history to lead a police force as large as the NYPD," Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted.

"She isn't just an historic choice, she's the right choice," he added.

Shea mentioned the fact that Holmes came out of a family of officers, saying "I think she is the complete package. I couldn't be more proud to be here with her and the Holmes family ... You hear about blue families and police families, but then you have the Holmes family."

Holmes started with the NYPD in 1987 as an officer and was promoted seven times up to her retirement in 2018, before coming back to the NYPD in 2019. She previously commanded the NYPD's School Safety Division, Domestic Violence Division Unit, Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Training, Borough Commander of Queens North (the first African American woman to serve in this position), Police Service Area 2 and the 81 Precinct. Enditem

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