Joseph Esposito

Joseph John Esposito (March 28, 1950 – January 8, 2024) was an American police officer, who served as Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement for the New York City Department of Buildings, Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management from 2014 to 2018, and Chief of the New York City Police Department from 2000 to 2013. Esposito was the longest-serving Chief of Department in NYPD history, much of his tenure being under Raymond Kelly, who was the longest-serving Police Commissioner in NYPD history.

Background Joseph J. Esposito was born on March 28, 1950, in Brooklyn. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York.

Esposito died in Mineola, New York, on January 8, 2024, at the age of 73 from brain cancer.

Career Esposito entered the NYPD in August 1968 at 18 years old as a Police Trainee. In April 1971, he was appointed a Patrolman, and began his career on patrol in the 77th Precinct in Brooklyn. He was promoted to Detective in May 1983, Sergeant in September 1983, Lieutenant in February 1986, Captain in June 1989, Deputy Inspector in August 1993, Inspector in August 1994, Deputy Chief in September 1996, and Assistant Chief in December 1997. On August 25, 2000, he was promoted to the position of Chief of Department, making him the highest-ranking uniformed member of the department. In his career, Esposito served in numerous commands of the department, including the 77th, 10th, 83rd, 109th, 34th, 66th, and 83rd Precincts, and in the Narcotics Division and the Detective Bureau. In his last assignment before becoming Chief of Department, Esposito was the Commanding Officer of the Strategic and Tactical Command (S.A.T.COM) Brooklyn North. As Chief of Department, Esposito directed and controlled the daily operations of the five major enforcement Bureaus (Patrol Services, Detectives, Transit, Housing, and Organized Crime Control) within the NYPD. He also coordinated the crime control strategy meetings at which commanders share tactical information and recommend plans of action for realizing crime reduction goals. During his career, he earned some of the department's most honored and prestigious awards, including the Combat Cross, the Medal for Valor, and the Exceptional Merit award.

Esposito led the NYPD response to the September 11th attacks. Years later in an interview with WNBC, he described the attacks as the most haunting moment of his career.

During President George W. Bush’s famous visit to Ground Zero days after the attacks, Esposito could be seen amongst the NYPD and FDNY members surrounding the president.

Controversies In April 2006, New York State Senator Simcha Felder accused Esposito of using inappropriate language when Esposito attempted to quell individuals who entered a police station house during a riot in Borough Park. Felder indicated that he personally heard the chief say, "Get the fucking Jews out of here." However, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, which investigates police misconduct, later found the accusation against Esposito unsubstantiated, but did reprimand Chief Esposito for using profanity.

In a video taken on St. Patrick's Day in 2012 and later obtained by the Daily News, Esposito was seen shoving protesters and, at least once, using a nightstick to strike a protester.

In September 2012, Esposito was photographed while restraining a slim-build female Occupy Wall Street activist. The photograph was noted in the Letters to the Editor section of the Daily News, since it appeared that Esposito had placed the activist into a "chokehold."

Dates of rank