Ray Kelly, the former police commissioner of New York City, is joining ABC News as a consultant, Ben Sherwood announced this morning.
“A 43-year veteran of the NYPD, Commissioner Kelly’s vast knowledge will provide our viewers with an even deeper understanding of national security and intelligence issues at home and overseas. It is an honor and privilege to have him on our team,” Sherwood, the president of ABC News, wrote in a note to staff.
Kelly served as police commissioner from 1992-94 under Mayor David Dinkins and from 2002-13 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Kelly is the first person to serve two non-consecutive tenures as police commissioner.
Kelly’s son, Greg Kelly, is a former Fox News anchor who currently anchors “Good Day New York” on WNYW, the Fox-owned station in New York City.
Read Sherwood’s full note after the jump.
I am delighted to announce that Ray Kelly is joining ABC News as a consultant for all ABC News platforms.
As the longest serving Police Commissioner of the City of New York, Ray Kelly brings 50 years of public service and law and order experience to ABC News.
One of the world’s most well-known and respected leaders in law enforcement, Kelly is the first person to serve two, non-consecutive tenures as Police Commissioner. He served under Mayor Dinkins from 1992-1994 and was appointed Police Commissioner by Mayor Bloomberg in 2002.
As Police Commissioner of the City of New York, Kelly helped transform the safety and security of the city after 9/11. He successfully reduced the city’s violent crime rate by 40 percent and also established the first counterterrorism bureau of any city police department in the U.S.
Kelly’s diverse career includes directing the international police force in Haiti, serving as Commissioner of the US Customs Service and as Undersecretary of Enforcement at the US Treasury Department. After three decades of service and a combat tour in Vietnam, Police Commissioner Kelly retired as a Colonel from the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 1993.
Born and raised in New York, Kelly holds a BBA from Manhattan College and a JD from St. John’s University School of Law, along with a MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 2006, he was awarded France’s highest honor for his long career in public service, the Legion D’Honneur. Kelly recently joined Cushman and Wakefield as President of Risk Management Services.
A 43-year veteran of the NYPD, Commissioner Kelly’s vast knowledge will provide our viewers with an even deeper understanding of national security and intelligence issues at home and overseas. It is an honor and privilege to have him on our team.
Please join me in welcoming one of New York City’s finest.
Ben