After Promotion BSTF Welcomes New Chief

Assistant Chief Thomas Chan, the current commanding officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South, was promoted today to serve as the new chief of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau. Replacing him will be Assistant Chief Owen J. Monaghan, coming from the Transit Bureau where he served as the executive officer.

Chan, 55, who joined the NYPD in January 1982 and was already the first Asian-American in department history to rise to the rank of a “two-star” chief, will become the first Asian-American “three-star” chief.

Chan is replacing Philip Banks III, who was promoted last month as the new Chief of Department, taking over the spot previously held by Joseph Esposito, who retired.

“Commissioner Kelly has named Chief Chan to the post and he will make the appointment official at promotion ceremonies on Friday,” said NYPD spokesman Paul Browne last night.

Assistant Chief Owen J. Monaghan has been a member of the NYPD for thirty one years.  He is currently assigned as the Executive Officer of the 2,500 member Transit Bureau.  The Transit Bureau is responsible for policing the 468 subway stations and 24 separate train lines on which 5.2 million people ride daily.

He has been a Commanding Officer of Transit Districts 1 and 34 encompassing the Times Square and Coney Island transportation complexes.  His experience also includes commanding the Resource Analysis Section of the Office of Management Analysis and Planning, the 109th Precinct in North Queens and the Transit Brooklyn Task Force.

The new appointments were made official today by Commissioner Kelly in a ceremony at 1 Police Plaza.