Assistant Chief Judith Harrison says she’s ready to battle the major challenges of her newest command that she started at the end of June. She’s now the commanding officer of Brooklyn North, an area of the city that has historically seen a lot of violence. It’s currently seeing a drastic increase in shootings and murders.

What You Need To Know:

• Chief Judith Harrison is the first woman to be the commanding officer of Brooklyn North.
• Chief Harrison will oversee 10 precincts in Brooklyn North neighborhoods.
• 22 shooting incidents last week in Brooklyn North, six killed.
• Chief Harrison grew up in Queens and still lives in the borough.

“I was standing in the park where there was a 27-year-old male shot, killed. I have a 28-year-old son. That resonated with me,” said Chief Harrison.

Last week there were 22 shooting incidents in Brooklyn North neighborhoods compared to just three last year during the same time. Six people were killed last week. The chief says there’s a small number of individuals involved in lots of gang violence.

“We are laser focused at turning our attention to those individuals and making sure that we build strong cases against them,” explained Harrison.

As the Brooklyn North Commander, Chief Harrison will oversee 10 precincts that cover multiple neighborhoods including Brownsville, East New York and Crown Heights.

She proudly had her photo taken at Police Headquarters. A photo that will be placed inside the Brooklyn North station house memorializing her becoming a commander there. And she’s making history in the NYPD.

“When my picture goes up there I will be the 24th person, but I will be the first woman. At this time Black voices matter, Black voices in leadership matter,” she said.

Harrison has worked her way up the ranks over her 23-year career from patrol officer to two star chief. She says she’s meeting with community members and cops to find solutions to better the relationship between the two while fighting crime to keep people safe.

Harrison grew up in Queens and still lives in the borough. She played high school and college basketball.

Her mother worked as a civilian in the NYPD. When Harrison was a young girl police officers would check on her as her mom worked a second job at the airport.

“They would sometimes just activate the lights and sirens and my brother and I would run to the window, we would give them a thumbs-up, let them know we were ok,” she said.

Harrison said from that time on she wanted to be an officer to help others.