Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly announced today the promotion of Arnold S. Wechsler to Deputy Commissioner, Personnel. The appointment marks the first time in 40 years a civilian member of the service will oversee all personnel matters for the Department. He will be sworn in during the Department’s promotion ceremony tomorrow.

“No one brings more dedication and experience to the field of human resources than the man who joined the Department 38 years ago this week as a management intern and rose through the ranks to become the Employee Management Division’s Assistant Commissioner. Commissioner Wechsler has the incomparable expertise to handle the demands and complexities of the NYPD’s 50,000-employee organization,” Commissioner Kelly said.

Commissioner Wechsler joined the New York City Police Department on January 28, 1974, as a management intern in the Support Services Bureau. In that same year, he was promoted to assistant personnel examiner. In September 1978 he was promoted to Associate Staff Analyst in July 1981, to Deputy Director of Civilianization in October 1985, to Deputy Director, Employee Management Division/Employment Section in January 1995, to Director, Employee Management Division, and in September 2006 to Assistant Commissioner, Employee Management Division.

Besides his many years in the Employee Management Division, Commissioner Wechsler also served in the Support Services Bureau, the Employment Section, the Communications Division, the Office of Civilianization, and the Personnel Bureau. In addition, he served as a member of the Civilian Complaint Review Board from April 1989 until July 1993.

In his new position, Commissioner Wechsler will be responsible for the investigation, assessment, hiring, promotion, assignment, health and well-being of all uniform and civilian personnel in the New York City Police Department, as well as maintenance and safekeeping of all personnel records. He will oversee the Personnel Bureau, which is comprised of uniform and civilian investigative, medical, professional, and administrative support personnel assigned to six major divisions and sections: the Employee Management Division, Applicant Processing Division, Medical Division, Personnel Orders Section, Recruitment Section and Staff Services Section. Commissioner Wechsler will oversee the recruitment, hiring and advancement of all uniform and civilian personnel.

Commissioner Wechsler graduated from Brooklyn College summa cum laude and magna cum laude with bachelors and masters degrees in History. He and his wife, Faye, have been married for 40 years and have three married sons and numerous grandchildren.

Commissioner Wechsler’s predecessor, Chief Thomas V. Dale, recently was named Nassau County police commissioner.

(NYPD-DCPI / YWN Desk – NYC)