When NYC Police Commissioner William Bratton setup his administration within the NYPD, he chose young, yet experienced, superior officers to do the day-to-day running of the Department. Rather then take the next in line for crucial appointments, Bratton searched for those further down the chain of command. The results were outstanding.
His 1st Deputy Police Commissioner (who literally runs the Department) was John Timoney, a street cop throughout his thirty year career. The Chief of Department was Louis Anemone, a street wise supervisor, known for his aggressive, hands on way of operating. Even as Chief of Department, Anemone used a fully marked NYPD car with five stars on the license plate. When he didn't have a driver (with the rank of Captain or above), he was often seen driving himself, responding to initial radio runs throughout the city. Others who have held that rank used Department unmarked cars and usually wore suits and tie, rather than uniforms.
The third appointment made by Bratton was Jack Maple. Maple became acquainted with Bratton while Maple was a Transit Police Lieutenant, when Bratton was the Chief of Transit. When Bratton left Transit for a return trip to Boston, he took Maple with him. When they returned to NYC, Maple was appointed Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of crime strategies. Maple is easily identified on the streets and in Police Headquarters with is brown and white shoes, his bowler hat, and bow tie, and can often be seen yelling at Borough Chiefs and their assistants at crime strategy meetings.
Howard Safir has recently been appointed NYC Police Commissioner to replace Bratton on April 15. The transition was suppose to be smooth. But John Timoney, who was considered a front runner to take Bratton's place, but was not selected, decided to take some potshots at the new commissioner. Timoney called Safir a "light- weight," referring to his limited police experience, and called Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, "a little crazy." Timoney had his retirement papers in when he said that, but they were effective April 15. However, Mayor Giuliani took offense to Timoney's remarks and ordered him on a leave of absence until his retirement became effective. Timoney was left out of the transition team.
Yesterday, to the shock of NYPD watchers, Jack Maple resigned from his Deputy Commissioner's post. Just two days before, press reports recorded Maple as saying that he would be there until "we start locking up people with ray guns." Whether this was done at the urging of Safir or Giuliani, or if Commissioner Bratton offered Maple a position with him in the corporate world, is unknown at this time. But what is obvious is that Safir will have to start from scratch in setting up his team, a team that will follow "Team Bratton," and his many successes in the crime fighting area.
The goal for Giuliani is to "keep the numbers down" for the remaining two years of his term. There are many to choose from within the ranks of the NYPD. Safir will have to be careful to select those that will not go back to "business as usual," something very hard to do in a job known for, "you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours," and select those who are willing to do a job that will make them no friends and probably alienate some old ones.
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