3rd black woman to be NYPD chief

When she became the third black woman in NYPD history to be promoted to chief, Donna Jones was asked to join her fellow department heads on the dais.

She didn’t have to worry about finding a seat, however: the two black women named chief before her had a spot waiting.

“We saved her a seat,” Assistant Chief Juanita Holmes said as Jones (inset) stood by her side following Friday’s promotion ceremony at 1 Police Plaza Friday. Jones stood between Holmes and Chief Kim Royster, the first black woman in the department to be elevated to chief.

“This is another historical moment, and we are overjoyed about it,” Royster said.

Jones, who is currently the commanding officer of the NYPD Justice Bureau, said she’s ecstatic to be joining Holmes and Royster in their own first chiefs club. “I stand on the shoulders of those who have come before me,” she said, proudly hugging the two women. “The fact that I’m joining these two...it’s amazing.”

“That ceiling is broken, and we will continue to break it,” Jones said. “The higher ranks are becoming more diverse, so when we have that diversity we are able to overcome any challenge before us.”

Jones has spent the past three decades in the NYPD. Police Commissioner James O’Neill singled out all the “great work” she did as executive officer of Patrol Borough Staten Island, where she oversaw police operations in the four precincts in Richmond County.

“I’m looking forward to the great work you will do in the Justice Bureau,” O’Neill said.

There are currently 1,860 black women in the NYPD — just over 5% of the department’s 36,000 member force.