Commissioner Bratton meets and greets Brooklyn civic leaders

It was an evening of reunions and new relationships at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Monday, March 24, when former colleagues Bill Bratton and Borough President Eric Adams teamed up to introduce Bratton—now commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD)—to some of his Brooklyn constituents.

The meet-and-greet also served as a forum for dialogue between the police department and local leaders from faith-based, civic and community leaders and activists. Issues discussed ranged from housing and transit issues to enforcement of pedestrian safety and crime prevention measures.

“We are excited that this administration has made it clear that the police and community are one,” said Adams, a former NYPD Transit Bureau officer who worked his way up the ranks to captain before being elected state senator and then taking on the mantle of Brooklyn borough president this past January.

“There is still so much work that needs to be done and that work cannot be done by police alone,” concurred Bratton. “Even though we are good however, we are getting better all the time and we cannot do it without you, the people of our community.”

Bratton and Adams also took the opportunity to honor Bushwick resident Osvaldo Valdez for aiding police officers in subduing a suspect during an arrest in January, 2014.