Full Name
Keechant Sewell
Job Title
Senior Vice President of Security and Guest Experience
Company
NY Mets
Speaker Bio
Keechant L. Sewell was sworn in as the 45th Police Commissioner of New York City on January 1, 2022, by Mayor Eric Adams. Her law enforcement career began in 1997 with the Nassau County Police Department, where she rose through the ranks, holding a variety of assignments. These included undercover work, community-focused initiatives, and investigations related to gun, drug, and gang activity. She also commanded multiple precincts and bureaus, created, and led the Professional Standards Bureau, and ultimately became Chief of Detectives in 2020.
As NYPD Commissioner, Sewell spearheaded a comprehensive strategy to enhance both public safety and the core functions of the department. She established the Innovation Steering Committee, tasking 600 executives and thought leaders with a top-to-bottom review of the department, evaluating emerging technologies and best practices. This three-month initiative resulted in nearly 250 recommendations aimed at improving data analytics, community engagement, technology, officer safety, and creating a framework for ongoing evaluations.
Under her leadership, the NYPD increased productivity despite a reduced workforce. Arrests, including those for index crimes and illegal firearms, rose, along with the seizure of illegal ATVs, street encampment cleanups, and transit patrols. In response to violent crime spikes, Sewell strategically redeployed officers to high-crime areas and bolstered patrol strength by reallocating nearly 1,000 uniformed officers from administrative roles. During her tenure, the NYPD also became more diverse, with increases in minority and female representation across the executive ranks and new academy classes.
Sewell made officer wellness a central focus of her administration. In collaboration with labor unions, she piloted new work schedules designed to reduce the number of weekly shifts without reducing hours, allowing officers more time with their families while maintaining adequate coverage during peak times. She also introduced a voluntary overtime portal to reduce the strain of unplanned overtime on officers’ personal lives.
Sewell led a comprehensive review of the NYPD’s organizational structure, consolidating units to eliminate redundancy and ensure resource efficiency. She established the Professional Standards Bureau to improve compliance, offer independent evaluations, and implement corrective actions.
Embracing technology, Sewell launched initiatives to enhance both public engagement and officer safety. This included developing a user-friendly NYPD app, adding QR codes to the NYPD fleet, and enrolling the department in the Ring Neighbors Program to strengthen community relations. Technological advancements under her leadership also included augmented reality for officers in the field, increased use of robotics, and advanced GPS software to reduce vehicle pursuits and improve the recovery of stolen cars.
In addition to crime reduction, Sewell prioritized building meaningful relationships between the NYPD, communities, businesses, elected officials, and government agencies. Through initiatives such as Community CompStat, real-time incident alerts, and multi-agency task forces, she emphasized that public safety is a shared responsibility, leading to significant improvements in quality-of-life issues.
In 2023, Keechant Sewell joined the New York Mets as Senior Vice President of Security and Guest Services. In this role, she oversees safety initiatives at Citi Field and the Mets’ affiliated facilities in Brooklyn, Syracuse, Port St. Lucie, and the Dominican Republic Academy. Additionally, she manages transportation strategies and strengthens the organization’s relationships with community stakeholders and government entities.
Sewell is a graduate of the FBI National Academy’s 235th Session, where she was selected by her peers to deliver the commencement address. She serves on the executive board of the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force, co-chairs Counterterrorism Zone 1, and is a New York State-certified police instructor. Over her 20-year career, she has taught courses in strategic communications, interview techniques, and supervisory leadership. Sewell is also an FBI-trained hostage negotiator and served as Chief Negotiator for Nassau PD’s team.
As NYPD Commissioner, Sewell spearheaded a comprehensive strategy to enhance both public safety and the core functions of the department. She established the Innovation Steering Committee, tasking 600 executives and thought leaders with a top-to-bottom review of the department, evaluating emerging technologies and best practices. This three-month initiative resulted in nearly 250 recommendations aimed at improving data analytics, community engagement, technology, officer safety, and creating a framework for ongoing evaluations.
Under her leadership, the NYPD increased productivity despite a reduced workforce. Arrests, including those for index crimes and illegal firearms, rose, along with the seizure of illegal ATVs, street encampment cleanups, and transit patrols. In response to violent crime spikes, Sewell strategically redeployed officers to high-crime areas and bolstered patrol strength by reallocating nearly 1,000 uniformed officers from administrative roles. During her tenure, the NYPD also became more diverse, with increases in minority and female representation across the executive ranks and new academy classes.
Sewell made officer wellness a central focus of her administration. In collaboration with labor unions, she piloted new work schedules designed to reduce the number of weekly shifts without reducing hours, allowing officers more time with their families while maintaining adequate coverage during peak times. She also introduced a voluntary overtime portal to reduce the strain of unplanned overtime on officers’ personal lives.
Sewell led a comprehensive review of the NYPD’s organizational structure, consolidating units to eliminate redundancy and ensure resource efficiency. She established the Professional Standards Bureau to improve compliance, offer independent evaluations, and implement corrective actions.
Embracing technology, Sewell launched initiatives to enhance both public engagement and officer safety. This included developing a user-friendly NYPD app, adding QR codes to the NYPD fleet, and enrolling the department in the Ring Neighbors Program to strengthen community relations. Technological advancements under her leadership also included augmented reality for officers in the field, increased use of robotics, and advanced GPS software to reduce vehicle pursuits and improve the recovery of stolen cars.
In addition to crime reduction, Sewell prioritized building meaningful relationships between the NYPD, communities, businesses, elected officials, and government agencies. Through initiatives such as Community CompStat, real-time incident alerts, and multi-agency task forces, she emphasized that public safety is a shared responsibility, leading to significant improvements in quality-of-life issues.
In 2023, Keechant Sewell joined the New York Mets as Senior Vice President of Security and Guest Services. In this role, she oversees safety initiatives at Citi Field and the Mets’ affiliated facilities in Brooklyn, Syracuse, Port St. Lucie, and the Dominican Republic Academy. Additionally, she manages transportation strategies and strengthens the organization’s relationships with community stakeholders and government entities.
Sewell is a graduate of the FBI National Academy’s 235th Session, where she was selected by her peers to deliver the commencement address. She serves on the executive board of the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force, co-chairs Counterterrorism Zone 1, and is a New York State-certified police instructor. Over her 20-year career, she has taught courses in strategic communications, interview techniques, and supervisory leadership. Sewell is also an FBI-trained hostage negotiator and served as Chief Negotiator for Nassau PD’s team.
