Officers Juanita Holmes and Vanessa Kight make her-story as top cops in Brooklyn precinct
Deputy Inspector Juanita Holmes and Capt. Vanessa Kight are a crime-busting duo making NYPD her-story.
For the fist time in the annals of the 166-year-old police force, two black women are the top cops in command of a city precinct.
"When I got the call, I was really quite surprised to learn I was making history. I was just looking for someone to do the job," Holmes said of Kight's appointment. "I'm very grateful to have her."
Holmes, one of just three African-American female deputy inspectors on the force, was made commander of the 81st Precinct stationhouse in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, a year ago. She celebrated her 24th anniversary with the NYPD yesterday.
Kight, a 30-year NYPD veteran and one of 12 African-American female captains on the force, was tapped last week to be Holmes' executive officer.
"I'm glad to be here. I'm happy about it. It feels good," Kight said when asked about her momentous assignment.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly insisted his trust in Holmes and Kight has nothing to do with their gender or race.
"Deputy Inspector Holmes and Capt. Kight were selected to command because of their ability and experience," Kelly said.
"The fact that they are both African-American women is coincidental to the extent that the NYPD has a deep bench when it comes to diversity and talent."
Women comprise 17.2% of uniformed officers in the NYPD. African-Americans make up 16.5% of the uniformed force, with 5.6% being women.
Holmes, who grew up around the corner from the 81st Precinct stationhouse, comes from a family of cops. Four sisters and a brother are on the force; another brother is a correction officer and a third is a bounty hunter.
"My goals and aspirations were always to go as high as I could on the job," said Holmes, who began her career as a street cop in Queens. "Women are tasked with doing the same job as men and they are more than capable."
She made headlines in March when her estranged husband was accused of beating her while she was off-duty in Long Island.
Kight learned the ropes patrolling the toughest streets of Brooklyn and Queens. She served as captain in both the 84th and 88th precincts in Brooklyn.
"I like police work because it's constantly changing and moving forward," Kight said.
jdoyle@nydailynews.com
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/07/29/2011-07-29_officers_make_herstory.html#ixzz1TVF24Lvy
Deputy Inspector Juanita Holmes and Capt. Vanessa Kight are a crime-busting duo making NYPD her-story.
For the fist time in the annals of the 166-year-old police force, two black women are the top cops in command of a city precinct.
"When I got the call, I was really quite surprised to learn I was making history. I was just looking for someone to do the job," Holmes said of Kight's appointment. "I'm very grateful to have her."
Holmes, one of just three African-American female deputy inspectors on the force, was made commander of the 81st Precinct stationhouse in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, a year ago. She celebrated her 24th anniversary with the NYPD yesterday.
Kight, a 30-year NYPD veteran and one of 12 African-American female captains on the force, was tapped last week to be Holmes' executive officer.
"I'm glad to be here. I'm happy about it. It feels good," Kight said when asked about her momentous assignment.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly insisted his trust in Holmes and Kight has nothing to do with their gender or race.
"Deputy Inspector Holmes and Capt. Kight were selected to command because of their ability and experience," Kelly said.
"The fact that they are both African-American women is coincidental to the extent that the NYPD has a deep bench when it comes to diversity and talent."
Women comprise 17.2% of uniformed officers in the NYPD. African-Americans make up 16.5% of the uniformed force, with 5.6% being women.
Holmes, who grew up around the corner from the 81st Precinct stationhouse, comes from a family of cops. Four sisters and a brother are on the force; another brother is a correction officer and a third is a bounty hunter.
"My goals and aspirations were always to go as high as I could on the job," said Holmes, who began her career as a street cop in Queens. "Women are tasked with doing the same job as men and they are more than capable."
She made headlines in March when her estranged husband was accused of beating her while she was off-duty in Long Island.
Kight learned the ropes patrolling the toughest streets of Brooklyn and Queens. She served as captain in both the 84th and 88th precincts in Brooklyn.
"I like police work because it's constantly changing and moving forward," Kight said.
jdoyle@nydailynews.com
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/07/29/2011-07-29_officers_make_herstory.html#ixzz1TVF24Lvy
