How Benjamin Ward Rose to Lead as New York’s First Black Police Commissioner, Steering the Force Through Tumultuous 1980s Challenges
Benjamin Ward stepped into history in 1984 when Mayor Ed Koch appointed him as New York City’s first Black police commissioner. His leadership came during one of the city’s most turbulent eras, marked by soaring crime, the crack epidemic, and rising racial tensions.
Ward was no stranger to challenge. After more than three decades in the NYPD, he knew the weight of the role. His plaque read, “Lord grant me patience… but hurry.” It reflected the urgency of leading a department under constant strain.
During his five years in charge, from 1984 to 1989, Ward pushed reforms, expanded diversity, and pioneered community policing strategies that reshaped the department’s approach.
One of Ward’s most lasting contributions was his commitment to community policing. He believed officers needed to engage residents not just as enforcers but as partners in solving problems. This shift marked a move toward more humane and socially aware policing.
Ward also transformed the makeup of the department. Under his watch, the number of Black officers rose by 17 percent, Hispanic officers by 60 percent, and women by 85 percent. He even appointed the force’s first Hispanic chaplain, underscoring his belief that representation strengthened trust.
Yet Ward kept a firm line on discipline and crime. He cracked down on “quality of life” offenses like drug dealing, gambling, and prostitution while also addressing police misconduct. After brutality cases surfaced, he demoted supervisors and created new training in crowd control.
Ward often resisted expectations that he would govern as a liberal figure. At his first news conference, he made his philosophy clear: “I’m very, very liberal when it comes to race relations, but when it comes to law enforcement, I am very, very conservative.”
This stance sometimes drew sharp criticism. At a Black journalists’ conference, he was booed for stating, “Most crime in this city is Black-on-Black… committed by young Blacks under 30.” While controversial, the comment showed his willingness to voice difficult truths as he saw them.
Ward’s firm positions sometimes fueled tensions but also reinforced his identity as what colleagues called “a cop’s cop.”
Ward’s tenure was tested by high-profile incidents. Within his first year, a white officer fatally shot a 66-year-old Black woman with mental illness during an eviction. Ward defended the officer’s adherence to guidelines, promoted him after acquittal, but also revised police procedures for handling mentally ill residents.
Despite receiving nearly 300 racist death threats, Ward maintained his presence. Off duty, he carried a semi-automatic pistol, a sign of both his vulnerability and his determination to endure.
The commissioner’s commanding 6’1” frame and booming voice became symbols of strength at a time when New York was desperate for stability.
Ward’s journey to leadership was remarkable. Born in Brooklyn in 1926 to a Black mother who worked as a cleaner and a white father who was nearly 80 at his birth, Ward’s childhood wasmarked by povertyand loss. Six of his ten siblings died young.
A military police stint in Europe after World War II opened the door to law enforcement. In 1951, out of 78,000 police applicants, Ward ranked third. He began directing traffic in white gloves, patrolling all-white neighborhoods as their first Black officer, and facing discrimination that tested his resolve.
Ward pursued education alongside his police duties, earning multiple degrees including a law degree from Brooklyn College. His dedication accelerated his rise, leading to key leadership roles in corrections and prison reform before his appointment as commissioner.
Benjamin Ward retired in 1989 but remained a towering figure in New York’s policing history. His career showed that fairness and conservatism could exist side by side. His reforms opened doors for more diverse officers and left a legacy of community engagement that continues to influencepolicing strategies today.
Ward died in 2002 at age 75, survived by his wife Olivia, their three daughters, and two sons. His story remains one of resilience, complexity, and leadership in an era of immense strain.
Benjamin Ward was appointed Police Commissioner in the 1980’s, serving as the first African American to lead the NYPD. Today, in Lower Manhattan, his family gathered at the corner of Baxter St & Hogan Pl for a street renaming ceremony in his honor, allowing his legacy to live on.pic.twitter.com/bBoQvDnjR0
