Changing of the guard at NYPD Brooklyn North

February 13, 2015 Robert Pozarycki

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North Brooklyn police precincts have a new boss.

Deputy Chief Jeffrey Maddrey took the helm on Friday, February 13 as commanding officer of NYPD Patrol Borough Brooklyn North, which covers 10 precincts including the 83rd in Bushwick, the 90th in Williamsburg and the 94th in Greenpoint.

Maddrey replaces Chief Gerald Nelson, who officially retired today and received a ceremonial walkout from officers at Brooklyn North’s Bushwick headquarters.

“Chief Nelson has served the department and this city for more than four decades,” Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said in a statement last Wednesday, Feb. 11. He credited Nelson for helping police drive homicides down 40.3 percent since he became Brooklyn North commander in 2006.

Maddrey, who previously served as executive officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South, brings “an excellent record” to his new position, Bratton stated.

“[Maddrey’s] leadership experience, as well as his strong ties within the community, makes him an asset to the department and the people he will serve in his new capacity,” the commissioner said.

Beginning his career in 1991 as a beat officer in the Elmhurst-based 110th Precinct, Maddrey was promoted in 1998 to the rank of sergeant, then moved up to lieutenant three years later. He served tours at precincts across Brooklyn, including the 60th, 67th, 70th, 72nd, 73rd, 75th and 77th commands.

Maddrey continued rising through the ranks in the last decade, from captain in 2003 to deputy chief in 2011. He served as commanding officer at the 73rd and 75th precincts, the Brooklyn South Task Force and Housing Borough Brooklyn.

Nelson, meanwhile, served in law enforcement for 42 years. He began his career in 1973 as a member of the New York City Housing Police Department, which later merged with the NYPD. After joining the NYPD, he served stints with the Police Academy, the Project Stabilization Unit, the Internal Affairs Bureau, the Recruitment Section, the Personnel Services Bureau, Transit Borough Bronx and Housing Borough Bronx/Queens.

Nelson served as commander of the NYPD School Safety Division, SATCOM Housing Operations, the Housing Police Department’s Personnel Services Bureau, Housing Borough Bronx/queens and Transit Borough Bronx. He was also an executive officer of the NYPD Queens Detective Borough.

Despite his retirement, Nelson continues to serve as regional vice president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) for the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut chapters.