Richie Taylor, Highest-Ranked Yarmulke-Wearing NYPD Officer, to Be Promoted to Inspector
by Reuvain Borchardt – Hamodia
Deputy Inspector Richie Taylor, the highest-ranking yarmulke-wearing officer in the New York Police Department, is being promoted to full inspector, Hamodia has learned.
At 39 years old, Taylor, who currently serves as commanding officer of community affairs outreach at the Office of the Chief of Community Affairs, will be one of the youngest inspectors in the Department. He will be formally promoted at a ceremony next week.
In comments to Hamodia Tuesday night, Jewish community leaders applauded news of Taylor’s promotion.
“This is a well-deserved promotion for someone who gives to the community and the people of New York more than 24/7,” Yankie (Jack) Meyer, clergy liaison to the NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau, said, before quipping, “I guess we’ll be answering to a higher authority now.”
NYPD clergy liaison Rabbi Abe Friedman called Taylor “an exemplary leader who has forged meaningful relations between the NYPD and the communities of this city.”
Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein said, “I respect and admire Richie Taylor both as a police officer and as a friend. As the highest ranking NYPD officer who wears a yarmulke, he is a walking kiddush Hashem. I am confident that Inspector Taylor will continue to serve with honor and distinction.”
Richie (Yechiel) Taylor, 39, grew up in Manhattan Beach and Midwood, attending Yeshiva of Manhattan Beach and Touro College.
Taylor began as a Police Explorer in the 61st Precinct at the age of 15, and became a police officer in 2005. He was promoted to sergeant in 2010, lieutenant in 2014, captain in 2016 and deputy inspector last year.
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.
Before becoming a police officer, Taylor was a member of Hatzalah, and responded to the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Richie and his wife, Miri, live in Marine Park with their five daughters, and the Taylor family is a ubiquitous presence at city and community events.
This article has been published with permission from Hamodia
