New Chief of Patrol appointed

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly has announced the appointment of Robert Giannelli as the New York City Police Department's Chief of Patrol.
He succeeds Chief Nicholas Estavillo, who retired.
&#8220Chief Giannelli brings four decades of experience and professionalism to this important assignment,” Kelly said. &#8220He has helped manage the Police Department's response at crucial times throughout his career, including the crash of TWA Flight 800, the hunt for the Zodiac killer and the investigation into the assassination of Officer Edward Byrne. Chief Giannelli will now play an even more important role in safeguarding the city against conventional crime and terrorism in the months and years ahead.”
As Chief of Patrol, Giannelli will plan, direct and coordinate the deployment of the Police Department's uniformed officers on patrol in eight borough commands, as well as the Special Operations Division. He is also responsible for Police Headquarters security and the Auxiliary Police.
Appointed a patrolman in April 1968, Giannelli served in the 23rd Precinct in Manhattan, and was promoted to Sergeant in November 1974 when he was assigned to the 77th Precinct in Brooklyn. In October of 1979, he was transferred to Brooklyn South Narcotics, as a supervisor there.
Giannelli was promoted to Lieutenant in March 1984 and assigned on patrol in Manhattan’s Midtown North precinct, and later as the Commanding Officer of Central Warrants. He was promoted to Captain in May 1985 and served in various commands including Commanding Officer of the 83rd Precinct, Executive Officer of the 81st Precinct, and Citywide Supervisor of Detectives in the Chief of Detectives Office. Later, in 1987, he was named Commanding Officer of the Queens Detectives Specialty Squad, a forerunner to today's Major Case Squad. He was appointed Commanding Officer of the Aviation Unit in December 1990.
Promoted to Deputy Inspector in April 1992, he served subsequently as Commanding Officer of the 32nd Precinct and Executive Officer of the Special Operations Division. Promoted in 1997 to the rank of Inspector, Chief Giannelli also served as Commanding Officer of the Emergency Services Unit and, in 1998, as Commanding Officer of the South Bronx Narcotics Initiative. He was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2002 and Assistant Chief in 2003, and served as Executive Officer of the Detective Bureau until his latest promotion.
Giannelli holds a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York. A native of the Bronx, he has been married to his wife Patricia for 36 years. The couple has three adult children, Jennifer, Robert and Sarah.