Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly likely to lose security detail, source says

Though a final decision won't be made until the end of the year, former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly -- who faces no known threat against him -- will probably lose his police security detail come Jan. 1, 2015, a high-ranking law enforcement official said.

Since he left the top cop job on Jan. 1, 2014, Kelly has had a detail of at least six NYPD officers providing him with constant security, said the official who asked not be identified. Kelly was given the protection because of his high-profile posture against terrorism.

Security also had been offered to two other recent commissioners when they left the job: Howard Safir and William Bratton when he served under Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Safir had the security for about a year but Bratton declined the extra protection, the official said.

"No decision has been made but my guess is the [Kelly] security will be reduced if not completely phased out," the official said. "Typically, I am not sure it is kept for more than a year."

Kelly currently works as president of risk management services for the New York real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield and can probably benefit from having his own corporate driver and private security when needed, the official said.

Kelly couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.