Project Manager
Flushing/Willets Point/Corona Land Development Corporation
Gertrude (Trudy) LaForgia recently stepped into her new position as Project Manager for the Flushing/Willets Point/Corona Land Development Corporation, an advocacy group for the proposed redevelopment of Willets Point. As such, she is responsible for coordinating advocacy activities.
Of her involvement in the project, LaForgia said, “It’s an exciting venture and it’s going to be a tremendous improvement for Queens. It is going to be a new, vital urban business area that Queens and New York City can be proud of.”
LaForgia began her 32-year career in the New York Police Department (NYPD) patrolling in the 24th Precinct in 1966 and worked her way up the ladder, becoming the first woman to be ranked as two-star chief and the first woman to be named borough commander.
In 1994, she served as Deputy Chief and transformed the Public Morals Division into the New Vice Enforcement Division. In 1995, she was promoted to Assistant Chief. After retiring in 1998, she took a position as Commissioner of Public Safety in Mount Vernon, New York. During her tenure as commissioner, crime in Mount Vernon saw a 30 percent decrease.
In 2001, she accepted the position of Executive Vice President of Clark Security & Investigations, where she provided security for private businesses.
LaForgia earned her Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice from State University of New York (SUNY) Empire State College. She also attended the F.B.I. National Academy. She is part of the New York City Superior Officers Association, the National Association of Women Police and International Association of Chiefs of Police, as well as many other professional affiliations
