Yarmulka Wearing NYPD Inspector Richie Taylor Promoted to Deputy Chief

by Reuvain Borchardt – Hamodia

“Thank you Hashem!” an emotional Taylor told Hamodia on Wednesday evening. “I am deeply appreciative of the faith Commissioner Edward Caban has shown in me. And this could never have been possible without the sacrifices of my family all these years. I look forward to using my new position to further help people across the city.”

At 41, Taylor will be the youngest deputy chief currently in the Department.

Richard (Yechiel) Taylor grew up in Manhattan Beach and Midwood, attending Yeshiva of Manhattan Beach and Touro College.

Before becoming a police officer, Taylor was a member of Hatzalah, and responded to the World Trade Center on 9/11.

He became a police officer in 2005, and was promoted to sergeant in 2010, lieutenant in 2014, captain in 2016, deputy inspector in 2020 and inspector in 2021.

Taylor has served in over 10 commands across the city, and was the recipient of the 61st Precinct Cop of the Month Award in September 2016 for making a firearm arrest solo.

He currently serves as commanding officer of Community Affairs, and he will continue in the Community Affairs Bureau after his promioion.

Taylor has been known to take calls well past midnight assisting people and organizations in need.

Richie and his wife, Miri, live in Marine Park with their five daughters. The Taylor family is a ubiquitous presence at city and community events. He often spends these events — when not on the podium receiving an honor — with one phone to each ear.

Community activists who spoke to Hamodia on Wednesday evening praised the promotion.

“Inspector Taylor’s kindness and devotion to the well-being of every single New Yorker is unmatched,” said police clergy liaison David Heskiel. “This promotion is well deserved.”

“Our entire community has great reason to be proud of Richie’s promotion,” said Councilman Kalman Yeger. “For the last two decades, I have watched Richie serve our city and the NYPD with great distinction. He is a model cop, respected in the Department and throughout our city’s neighborhoods. His promotion will do great honor to the NYPD.”

Taylor will officially be sworn into his new position in a ceremony Friday at the Police Academy in Queens.