Adams appoints new deputy mayor for public safety- City government has ample talent pool_2

On October 15, Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointment of Chauncey Parker as the new Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, filling the position left vacant by the resignation of Philip Banks. Parker’s role will involve coordinating public safety efforts across various city departments. Adams emphasized the city’s strong talent pool, noting that many individuals are eager to join his team.

With nearly 40 years of law enforcement experience, Parker previously served as the Deputy Commissioner for Collaborative Policing at the NYPD. Since 1995, he has held a range of positions including Executive Director of the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Executive Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan, and Director and Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Since July, Parker has worked as an assistant to Philip Banks, focusing on gun violence prevention and strategies for youth crime reduction.

Adams noted that there was a strong pool of applicants for the position, with nine candidates from outside the city government. However, after careful consideration, Parker emerged as the clear choice. “He was obviously the best candidate,” Adams stated.

The Deputy Mayor for Public Safety is responsible for liaising with various law enforcement agencies throughout the city, including the NYPD, Department of Corrections, Fire Department of New York, and the NYC Emergency Management Department, reporting directly to Adams. This position had been absent from city government structures since the 1990s until Adams appointed Banks in January 2022.

In the wake of federal investigations affecting Adams’ administration, Philip Banks has stepped down along with other top city officials. According to POLITICO, the Department of Education recently received a subpoena from federal investigators looking into allegations of bribery concerning city contracts tied to the Banks family business. On October 11, Philip Banks took to social media platform X to defend himself, urging reporters to submit Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to verify relevant facts.

On the same day, Adams also announced the appointment of Mona Suazo as the Assistant Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, succeeding Parker in his former role. Suazo previously served as an assistant to Philip Banks.