5 things to know about Edwin Raymond, the former cop turned NYC sheriff

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed former NYPD Lt. Edwin Raymond as the new sheriff of New York City.

The appointment marks a dramatic shift in leadership for the sheriff’s office. The sheriff serves as an officer of the court under the Department of Finance. The office oversees legal processes including judiciary law, civil practice law and real property actions. Responsibilities include seizures of money and property pursuant to warrants and court orders, as well as enforcing mental hygiene warrants, tax laws and laws related to unlicensed cannabis enforcement.

“Edwin Raymond represents the kind of public servant New Yorkers deserve: principled, courageous and deeply committed to justice,” Mamdani said. “Throughout his career, he has fought to build a public safety system rooted in effectiveness, accountability and public trust.”

Here are five things to know about the new NYC sheriff.

Education and years of NYPD service

Raymond, the child of Haitian immigrants who grew up in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan.

Raymond joined the NYPD at 22 and spent eight years as a police officer in Transit District 32 and the 77th Precinct in Brooklyn before being promoted to sergeant and lieutenant.

He also served as commanding officer of Brooklyn North Community Affairs and as a platoon commander in the 83rd and 81st precincts, also Brooklyn, before retiring in 2023.

Raymond’s work advancing law enforcement practices earned him the NAACP’s Courage Under Fire Award.

NYPD lawsuit

In 2015, Raymond and multiple other officers filed a lawsuit that accused the NYPD of using arrest quotas that disproportionately affected Black and Latino men.

“Plaintiffs, who are Latino and African-American Police Officers, allege that their employer, the NYPD, violated their rights and discriminated in their employment based on their race and national origin,” reads the original suit.

The NYPD denied using race-based quotas and the case was dismissed in federal court.

Author and public voice

Following the lawsuit, Raymond wrote a 2016 article for New York Times Magazine titled “A Black Police Officer’s Fight Against the N.Y.P.D.”

Later, Raymond became the author of “An Inconvenient Cop: My Fight to Change Policing in America,” a memoir that examines his time in the NYPD and his experiences challenging internal practices. The book focuses on themes of accountability, racial disparities in policing, and the pressures officers face within departmental culture.

Post-NYPD career

After retiring from the police force, Raymond served in the New York State Attorney General’s Office as the nation’s first social justice liaison. In this role, he supported the chief investigator for the office in advancing accountability in law enforcement.

“Throughout his career in law enforcement, Senior Detective Edwin Raymond has fought for safety, fairness, and accountability in our communities. He understands that true public safety requires public trust and has never shied away from standing up for what is right,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “Senior Detective Raymond’s contributions to our work at the Office of the Attorney General have been invaluable, and I am confident he will bring integrity, compassion, and a deep commitment to justice to his new role as New York City Sheriff.”

Oversight and reform focus

Raymond has built a reputation as an internal critic of policing practices, often pushing for greater transparency and accountability within law enforcement.

His willingness to challenge department leadership positioned him as a prominent voice in reform circles. Supporters say that perspective could influence how the sheriff’s office approaches enforcement priorities and public trust.

“Edwin Raymond is a true public servant for public safety,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “I’ve had the honor of working alongside him for many years in his fight for transparency and justice in policing. He is deeply dedicated to these ideals and to the people of our city. It’s amazing to see his journey—from being pushed aside for demanding accountability and justice in policing, to leadership in the same space. His experience and character will make him an excellent sheriff, a partner in public safety, and I look forward to seeing all that he’ll achieve for New Yorkers.”