NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell honored by Nassau as 'cop's cop'
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder greets NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell on Monday at a ceremony in Mineola celebrating March as Women’s History Month. Credit: Howard Schnapp
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, the Nassau police department's former chief of detectives, came home Monday as an honoree of the County Legislature's annual Women's History Month celebration.
Sewell, of Valley Steam, was the selection of Democrats while Republicans honored Patricia Guerrieri-Razzano, a Bethpage businessperson who has raised more than $14,000 to feed essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When New York City Mayor Eric Adams appointed Sewell commissioner in December, she became the first woman to hold the post in the department's 176-year history.
"Coming from Nassau County to a large city is a testament to what we do here," Sewell said. "To how we encourage our police officers. How we support our police officers. How we build up our police officers to be able to take on any challenge."
During Sewell's 24-year career at the NCPD, she commanded two detectives squads, the Seventh Precinct in Seaford, the Major Case Bureau and served as chief of the Professional Standards Bureau, which includes Internal Affairs, before being promoted to chief of detectives in late-2020.
"You've served in an exemplary fashion," said Legis. Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury). " You are a cop's cop and we are so proud that someone from the ranks of Nassau County Police Department would go and serve as the 45th police commissioner of NYPD and actually make history."
Sewell said Nassau provided her the tools needed to run the largest police force in the country.
"A building is only as good as its foundation and this county, and the Nassau County Police Department actually helped pour mine, brick by brick," she said.
Guerrieri-Razzano, who was born in Naples, Italy, established the Bethpage Community and Beyond Fundraiser, raising money and negotiating discounted meals from local food merchants that were delivered to front line workers during the pandemic. Food donations also went to hospitals, police, fire and sanitation departments, funeral homes, pharmacies, grocery stores and animal shelters across Long Island.
"It was such a hard and difficult few months," said Guerrieri-Razzano. "I remember sitting down with my daughter and saying 'what can we do to give back to the community that has always been so generous to us and our family?'"
Guerrieri-Razzano also reached out to friends and family members with sewing expertise to assemble thousands of cloth masks that were distributed to essential workers.
"She is a dynamo," said Legis. Rose Marie Walker (R-Hicksville). "She was out there constantly giving to so many who were in need and to those who were giving to others during that time."
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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