#NYPD’s Patrol Borough Brooklyn North gets its first female leader

Assistant Chief Judith Harrison took over the NYPD’s Brooklyn North Patrol Borough at a time shootings are spiraling out of control — but believes she can help “heal” the community and get them to cooperate with cops.

“We know that there’s a fractured relationship right now,” Harrison said at police headquarters at One Police Plaza Thursday. “We’ve seen police in the community. We know that and we acknowledge it. But the way that we’re going to heal that is to communicate with each other.”

Her new command saw 22 shooting incidents last week with 26 victims — compared to just three incidents in the same week last year, she said.

“Certainly, I’m very concerned about the violence in Brooklyn North,” Harrison said. “I’m extremely concerned about it. I know that there’s just a small number of people in Brooklyn North that are responsible for the bulk of the violence.”

When Harrison was appointed to the role two weeks ago, she became the first woman to hold the position.

“Certainly isn’t lost on me how historic that is,” she said. “Every day when I walk into the building where I work, there’s a wall. I call it the wall of fame. On that wall are 23 men, Brooklyn North borough commanders, and when my picture goes up there, I’ll be the 24th person, but I’ll be the first woman.”

Harrison, who is African American, said she thought she could make a difference in the community by trying to bring the members together and closer to police officers.

“At this time, black voices matter,” she said. “Black voices in leadership matter. I’ve certainly been speaking to members of the community. I’ve been speaking to members of youth groups, civic organizations.”

Harrison said she recently went to a shooting scene where a man was killed and talked to community members about their responsibility.

“Two days ago I was standing in the park where there was a 27-year-old shot, killed,” she said. “I have a 28-year-old son. That resonated with me.”

She said she told people who were gathered there that they had to speak up and move away from the “no snitching” mentality.

“This could be your son, your husband, your nephew,” she told a group of people. “If you know something, say something.”