NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill Keynotes Brooklyn Newsmakers

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill was the keynote speaker at the latest installment of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Newsmakers series.

Commissioner O’Neill touched on a range of topics in his address, including neighborhood policing, the recent spike in hate crime and the state of crime in Brooklyn and throughout the city. He also discussed his childhood roots in Flatbush and his 33-year career as a police officer, first as part of the Transit Police and later as part of the NYPD.

“I appreciate the opportunity to be part of the Brooklyn Newsmakers series,” NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said. “What a great opportunity to engage with those who live and work in Brooklyn, my hometown. This kind of dialogue is absolutely essential to fighting crime and keeping people safe. Cops can’t do it alone. Public safety is a shared responsibility, and neighborhood policing is the way forward.”

“Brooklyn’s public safety and vibrant economy go hand-in-hand,” said Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “As Brooklyn’s chief law enforcement officer, I am committed to working with the NYPD to keep our borough’s business owners, employees and residents safe, which in turn helps our communities thrive. I would like to thank Chamber President and CEO Carlo Scissura for hosting this important series.”

“Fair and effective policing is a vital component of the local atmosphere that helps Brooklyn businesses thrive and give back to their communities,” said Brooklyn Chamber President and CEO Carlo A. Scissura. “We’re very happy to have Commissioner O’Neill, a native Brooklynite, here to speak about many of the most pressing issues that affect our city. Many thanks to Investors Bank, NYU Tandon and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership for making this possible.”

“Commissioner O’Neill is a terrific addition to our growing list of prominent Newsmakers keynote speakers,” said Brooklyn Chamber Board Chair Denise Arbesu. “The NYPD’s essential role in keeping New Yorkers safe is highly relevant to the Brooklyn business community, and we are glad to be a part of that conversation.”

Newsmakers is sponsored exclusively by Investors Bank, and is held in conjunction with NYU Tandon School of Engineering and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.

Investors Bank Chief Operating Officer Domenick Cama said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to sponsor the Brooklyn Newsmakers programs, and pleased that attendance has steadily increased since the series began. More importantly, the briefing sessions provide Chamber of Commerce members and their guests with up-close access to the leaders who manage New York City.”

“Tandon is committed to making the world and NYC safer through our research, among other areas, in cybersecurity and safer transmission of information across digital platforms. We are delighted to contribute to the well being of the City and grateful to the NYPD for their diligent efforts in keeping us all safe. I am thus very pleased that the NYPD Commissioner O’Neill is addressing Brooklyn on our campus,” said NYU Tandon School of Engineering Dean Katepalli Sreenivasan.

“We are delighted to welcome an important partner, Chief James O’Neill, to Downtown Brooklyn for what should be an enlightening conversation about his vision for the NYPD,” said Regina Myer, President of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. “Having grown up in Brooklyn, Chief O’Neill brings with him a deep understanding of our borough and we are excited to work with him to ensure Downtown Brooklyn remains one of the City’s safest neighborhoods.”

Previous Newsmakers events have featured New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Public Advocate Letitia James, among others.