NEW YORK (PIX11) — NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell took the oath to protect and serve years ago, but on Thanksgiving she was serving in a different way.
Sewell served up a Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings to community members at Brownsville Collaborative Middle School. PIX11 News was the only station there as the commissioner and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez made Thanksgiving brighter for families, including asylum seekers.
“This is something I’ve done over the years, volunteering,” Sewell said. “I think it’s important to connect with our communities but also to show how grateful we are for their partnership.”
Brooklyn resident Wykethia Glenn said the meal meant everything to her.
Sewell said she’s thankful for her family, the men and women of the NYPD and the people of New York City. She’s also thankful shootings are down in the city by 33% compared to the same time last year and murders are down by about 32%. Still, she knows that for anyone who has been a victim of crime, the stats are not low enough.
“We know we have a lot more to do, she said. “We know we want to make sure people feel safe in the city.”