Benjamin Ward
Benjamin Ward | |
|---|---|
| 34th New York City Police Commissioner | |
| In office January 5, 1984 – October 22, 1989 | |
| Appointed by | Ed Koch |
| Preceded by | William J. Devine |
| Succeeded by | Richard J. Condon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 10, 1926 Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Brooklyn College Brooklyn Law School |
Benjamin Ward (August 10, 1926 – June 10, 2002) was the first
Early life
Ward was one of 11 children and was born in the
Career in the NYPD
Ward entered the
During the next 15 years in uniform, he rose through the ranks to lieutenant, serving in the Patrol Division, Juvenile Aide Division, Detective Division, and Legal Bureau. His rise was aided, in part, by his after-work studies at Brooklyn College and Brooklyn Law School (class of '65)[1] that earned him undergraduate and law degrees—invariably with top honors.
He eventually served as special legal counsel to
Two years later he was named a Deputy Police Commissioner of Trials, serving as chief hearing officer in all departmental disciplinary matters.
Later he became Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs with responsibilities for the Youth Aid Division and the Auxiliary Forces Section.
Mayor John V. Lindsay designated Ward as Traffic Commissioner in 1973. Under his leadership, uniformed traffic controllers from his agency took on street duties, thereby freeing hundreds of police officers from traffic direction posts. The following year he headed up what is now known as the Criminal Justice Agency that performs bail risk evaluations.
Three years later, Mayor
On August 13, 1979, he was designated to run the New York City Department of Corrections. He served as commissioner until December 31, 1983, when he accepted an appointment by Koch as New York City Police Commissioner.
Ward was sworn in by Mayor Koch as the city's thirty-fourth Police Commissioner on January 5, 1984. He was the first
Criticism of response to Philip Cardillo's murder
- See 1972 Harlem Mosque incident
On April 14, 1972, Patrolman Philip Cardillo and Vito Navarra responded to a "10–13" call at 102 E. 116th St. in
Life after retirement
Ward retired as NYC Police Commissioner on October 22, 1989. After his retirement, he remained active, teaching and serving on various boards until failing health forced him to curtail such endeavors.
He served as an adjunct professor of law at Brooklyn Law School, an adjunct professor of corrections at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and an adjunct professor of the Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.
Ward's personal papers are housed in the Lloyd Sealy Library Special Collections at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.[5]
Death
Benjamin Ward died on June 10, 2002, at the age of 75.
See also
- Tompkins Square Park Police Riot
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Levitt, Leonard. "Harlem Mosque Shooting: New Facts From the Old Chief". NYPD Confidential. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
- ISBN 0465008437.
- ^ a b Martin, Douglas (June 11, 2002). "Benjamin Ward, Former New York City Police Commissioner, 75, Dies". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ^ "Manuscript Collections". Lloyd Sealy Library Special Collections, John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
Further reading
- Benjamin Ward Papers, Lloyd Sealy Library Special Collections, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (view upon appointment)
- Cannato, Vincent J. "The Ungovernable City: John Lindsay and His Struggle to Save New York". New York: Basic Books, 2001. 703 pages. (ISBN 0465008437)
- Jurgensen, Randy, and Robert Cea. "Circle of Six: The True Story of New York's Most Notorious Cop-Killer And the Cop Who Risked Everything to Catch Him". New York: Disinformation Co.; London: Virgin [distributor], 2006. 256 pages. (ISBN 1932857397)
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