City Department of Sanitation boss Jessica Tisch has emerged as the frontrunner to be the NYPD’s next permanent commissioner, The Post has learned.
Tisch’s ascension to top cop isn’t yet a done deal, as sources said Mayor Eric Adams is expected to announce his decision on police commissioner next week.
Murmurs that Tisch will be the mayor’s pick reached a fever pitch Thursday — and, for some, provided a rare bit of welcome news for a city government shaken by Adams’ indictment and federal investigations that toppled the police department’s last full-time boss.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, no relation to the mayor, struck a hopeful note when asked about Tisch’s potential appointment to lead the NYPD.
“I’m pretty sure I can speak for my colleagues — I think Commissioner Tisch has done an outstanding job as sanitation head of that agency,” she said during a news conference. “She has been flawless and totally committed to us and our constituents.”
But turmoil wasn’t far behind, as rumors swirled about a shakeup in NYPD headquarters.
Interim Commissioner Tom Donlon dismissed members of his senior staff, sending them packing from their offices, sources said.
Donlon transferred the staffers because he felt they were being obstructionist, according to the sources.
The stopgap top cop’s days are also numbered, as a full-time commissioner is likely to be named soon, insiders said.
Sources said the weekslong search for a permanent top cop eventually narrowed to Tisch, who boasts a long career in city government and deep family connections, and would be the second woman NYPD commissioner, if appointed.
Her mother is Merryl Tisch, the former chancellor of New York State Board of Regents, while her father James Tisch is CEO of Loews Corporation.
One of Jessica Tisch’s many previous jobs included a stint as a Post intern.
She previously held several civilian positions in the NYPD, including commissioner for its information technology and telecommunication department.
As sanitation commissioner, Tisch took a leading role in Adams’ anti-rat crusade and unveiled the city’s first official trash bin.
But Tisch has been vocal about wanting to lead the NYPD — a position for which she lost out to Keechant Sewell, who became the department’s first female commissioner.
The pick will be an unprecedented third full-time NYPD commissioner for a first-term New York City mayor.
Sewell, Adams’ first police commissioner, resigned amid interference from City Hall, and was replaced by Edward Caban.
But after federal agents raided Caban’s home and seized his electronic devices Sept. 4 — part of what sources said was a corruption probe investigating potential influence peddling — he stepped down a week later.
The mayor chose Donlon to run the NYPD on an interim basis, hoping that a well-respected former FBI official at the helm would restore stability. But, a week afterward, the feds raided Donlon’s home in a search for decades-old documents.
City Hall officials remained mum on the commissioner search.
“The mayor is considering a number of qualified candidates for the role of police commissioner,” said Fabien Levy, deputy mayor for communications. “When we have an announcement to make, we will make it as soon as possible.”
