New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointment of Juanita N. Holmes as the commissioner for the New York City Department of Probation (DOP). Commissioner Holmes will lead the department and oversee the critical work of New York City probation officers, who play a key role in providing resources and support to help individuals exit the criminal justice system and thrive. Before being appointed commissioner, Holmes served as chief of training for the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the first uniform Black woman to hold the position.
“Commissioner Holmes is a dynamic leader who understands the importance of both safety and justice, and is the right choice to move this department forward for the residents of New York city,” said Mayor Adams. “Her vision to enhance the department’s focus on upstream solutions to aid people leaving the criminal justice system and combat recidivism are critical to our mission to keep New York the safest big city in America.”
“The Department of Probation needs to be led by someone with a deep understanding of the delicate line between rehabilitation and accountability, and Commissioner Holmes is that leader,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “As she has demonstrated in her more than three decades of public service, she understands that balance needed to ensure safety and justice. She’s an exceptional leader, a trailblazer, and an asset to our city.”
“Throughout my career, I have focused on ensuring that our young people and all members of our communities receive the services that they deserve and that they to remain on the right track, including increasing collaboration across city departments and agencies to serve the New Yorkers that we encounter,” said DOP Commissioner Holmes. “I would like to thank the mayor for this opportunity, and I look forward to building on the great work of this department focusing on enforcement, structure, treatment, and support to create a safer New York.”
“Chief Juanita Holmes served the Police Department and this city for over 30 years. Her appointment as commissioner of the Department of Probation furthers Mayor Adams’ vision for public safety in this city,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell. “The Department of Probation has long been an instrumental partner of the NYPD and we wish incoming Commissioner Holmes well as we look forward to strengthening this important relationship.”
Holmes will build on the current successes of the DOP to further advance public safety and community justice, including the agency’s evidence-based credible messenger mentoring programs and its Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), a unique and trusted resource that provides a range of services to people on probation and other community members in seven New York City communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the justice system for decades.
About Juanita N. Holmes
Juanita N. Holmes was appointed to the NYPD in July 1987 and most recently served as chief of training. Holmes began her career in Manhattan, serving on patrol in the 9th, 10th, and 13th Precincts. She rose through the ranks, serving as the commanding officer of Police Service Area #2, deputy inspector, and commanding officer of the 81st Precinct, where she was promoted to inspector.
Looking to continue her work citywide, Holmes transferred to the Training Bureau as an executive officer, helping oversee recruitments and in-service training for the NYPD, as well as the opening of the new, state-of-the-art academy building. While assigned to the Training Bureau, Holmes was promoted to the rank of deputy chief and later became commanding officer of the chief of department’s Domestic Violence Unit, where she coordinated the NYPD’s response to family violence. In 2016, Holmes became the first Black woman to serve as borough commander when she was promoted to assistant chief, overseeing eight precincts in patrol borough Queens North.
In 2019, Holmes was named commanding officer of the NYPD’s School Safety Division that oversaw 1.1 million students in over 1,800 schools citywide. In 2020, she was promoted to chief of collaborative policing, overseeing the development of non-enforcement options and improving access for police services. Later that year, Holmes was appointed chief of patrol, where she oversaw 16,800 uniformed members serving in 77 precincts and eight patrol boroughs across the city. In this position, she, at the time, served as the highest ranking Black woman in the NYPD, and was also the first woman to serve in the position as she managed the department’s largest bureau.
During her time as the chief of patrol, Holmes created the NYPD’s highly successful Girl Talk mentorship program where NYPD officers serve as surrogate families to at-risk young women and girls. Holmes also founded the NYPD’s Blue Chips program, which utilizes mentorship, personal enrichment, and sports to help bridge the gap between the police and youth.
Holmes earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from St. Joseph’s College and graduated from the Police Management Institute at Columbia University.
Holmes will report to Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III.
