Another First for Korean Americans... NYPD Chief Superintendent Heo Jeong-yoon to Be Promoted to Senior Executive Rank

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The New York Police Department (NYPD) will have its first Korean high-ranking officer at the Deputy Chief level.

Chief Superintendent Heo Jeong-yoon, the first Korean American in the NYPD to be promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 28th, Yonhap News reported, citing the NYPD and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York, that Inspector Heo Jeong-yoon of the NYPD has been nominated for promotion to Deputy Chief. Inspector Heo is expected to be officially notified of his new position at the promotion ceremony on the 28th (local time). The Deputy Chief rank is one level higher than Inspector, who is in charge of frontline police precincts. Although it is difficult to directly compare the rank structure with that of Korea, it is a senior executive position similar to the Korean rank of Gyeongmugwan. The insignia will also change from the 'eagle' symbolizing Inspector to a single star, equivalent to a general officer in the military.

Inspector Heo was appointed in 1998 as the first Korean female officer in the NYPD. The NYPD is the largest police organization in the United States, employing 36,000 officers and 19,000 civilian staff. After gaining experience working in Korean residential areas such as Manhattan and Queens, he made history as the first Korean promoted to Captain in 2022, followed by his promotion to Inspector at the end of 2023, also a first for a Korean in the NYPD. This promotion comes about six months after his promotion to Inspector was decided.

Inspector Heo expressed his feelings, saying, "It feels very meaningful to be the first Korean to wear a star insignia, and I truly feel that I have accomplished something as a Korean. I am pleased to be able to raise the presence of Koreans within the NYPD."