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Collaborative Policing

Community Affairs

Employee Relations

Equity and Inclusion

Information Technology

Legal

Personnel

Public Information

Risk Management

Strategic Initiatives

Support Services

Training

Trials


Equity and Inclusion

Deputy Commissioner for Equity and Inclusion: Wendy Garcia

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Wendy Garcia is the Deputy Commissioner, Equity and Inclusion for the New York City Police Department. As the Deputy Commissioner, Wendy Garcia is responsible for creating, implementing and evaluating strategies throughout the New York City Police Department to ensure processes and procedures are inclusive, transparent, impartial, free of discrimination and harassment, and equitable for all members of the NYPD.

The Office of Equity and Inclusion promotes awareness, education and outreach efforts to improve the quality of life in the workplace and beyond by fostering cultural understanding of employees and the community.

The Office of Equity and Inclusion oversees the Equal Employment Opportunity Division which is responsible for the prevention and investigation of employment and harassment claims, reasonable accommodation requests and ensuring compliance with regulations related to accessibility of Police Department facilities by members of the disabled community.

Previously, Ms. Garcia served as the Chief Diversity Officer at the Office of New York City Comptroller where she fostered contracting opportunities for women in minority owned business enterprises (MWBEs) and managed the Comptroller’s office’s internal supplier diversity related projects across all bureaus of the agency. In addition, Wendy Garcia also served as the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer at the Office of New York City Comptroller, Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships at the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), Deputy Director of the Manhattan Borough President’s Northern Manhattan Office, and Immigrant Research Analyst for the Rockefeller Foundation through Baruch College.

Ms. Garcia earned a Master’s degree in Urban Policy and Management from New School University with a concentration in Economic Development, and a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Delaware.

Mission

The goal of the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) is to foster equity through policy and regulation, both in and out of the workplace, and to increase supplier diversity for the New York City Police Department (NYPD). This is accomplished through transparency and accountability by applying nationwide best practices with our internal and external stakeholders.

OEI is the NYPD’s lead diversity, equity, and inclusion strategist, utilizing an evidence-based approach to identify, evaluate, and address processes and behaviors that affect the NYPD with a focus on underrepresented and underserved communities.

OEI is dedicated to prioritizing the needs, voices, and perspectives of marginalized communities by focusing on religious diversity and issues impacting the disability community, women, LGBTQIA+, and black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). OEI is responsible for ensuring our employees are treated with dignity and respect in the workplace, identifying and addressing obstacles to success, and promoting a fair and inclusive workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment. We are committed to creating a proactive procurement strategy that holds the NYPD accountable to include minority-owned businesses and suppliers, in addition to a diverse workforce.

OEI promotes awareness, education, and outreach efforts that engender respect and foster cultural understanding of our employees and the communities we serve. We are committed to educating our employees on equal employment opportunity policies as well as federal, state, and local laws that impact underserved communities.

OEI Training and Awareness Unit

The OEI Training and Awareness Unit provides required training on city, state, and local discrimination laws to all NYPD employees. Training topics include, but are not limited to, NYC EEO policy, sexual harassment prevention training, structured interviewing, LGBTQIA+ and transgender awareness, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, and implicit bias training.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Equal Employment Opportunity Division (EEOD) is responsible for the prevention and investigation of employment and harassment claims. Major changes in Department policy and training, facilitated by the EEOD, include the NYPD's policy on pregnancy and lactation, beards, religious head coverings, and transgender policies and ensure the Department is responsive and accommodating to the diverse needs of its members. EEOD works closely with complainants to thoroughly investigate and properly address inappropriate behavior to foster a safe and fair environment for all. The Reasonable Accommodations Unit processes requests for accommodations from members of the service, based on both disability and religion. The EEO Liaison Network is integral to the process of implementing EEO policy and assisting in complaints and investigations.

Disability Services

OEI also oversees the NYPD's implementation of policies associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Disability Services Facilitator (DSF) acts as a liaison between the Department and members of the public. The DSF coordinates all NYPD efforts to comply with federal, state, and local laws concerning accessibility, ensuring that the NYPD as an institution remains ADA-compliant.

Mentoring Unit

OEI has established a Mentoring Unit committed to NYPD employees' continued success. The Mentoring Unit oversees the Path to Mentorship program, created in response to the Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative that called on the NYPD to implement mentoring, leadership, and professional development programs to support officers from underrepresented populations early in their careers. The program connects leaders in the NYPD with high-potential employees from underrepresented groups to invest in their personal and professional goals by using their skills, experience, and network to drive their growth.

The Women’s Conference

A one-day celebration of the women of the NYPD held on International Women's Day where participants experience wide-ranging presentations and training designed to develop its current and future leaders. Participants will hear from an engaging keynote speaker and female heads of law enforcement agencies. They will also have the opportunity to network with leaders and colleagues.

The Women’s Institute

The Women's Institute offers an opportunity for 100 NYPD women to network and gain leadership skills to increase representation in executive positions and specialized units. The goals of the Women's Institute are to connect women of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and identities with tools to grow professionally and personally, create paths for women to advance and policies that help them do so, and confront challenges that disproportionately impact women.

Office of Equity and Inclusion
(646) 610-8139

Training and Awareness Unit
(646) 610-5072

Equal Employment Opportunity Division
(646) 610-5330

Reasonable Accommodations Unit
(646) 610-5330

About EEO: What You May Not Know

2024 NYPD Language Access Implementation Plan

NYPD 2022 EEO Policy Handbook

NYC EEEO Policy - 2021

Civilian History of the NYPD