Kaz Daughtry, the Adams administration’s new deputy mayor for public security, says he’s bringing lofty targets to an expanded portfolio of metropolis businesses that now fall below his purview.
A controversial determine in his earlier function within the NYPD and sometimes critiqued by these out and in of the division, New York News is trying to uncover what Daughtry has deliberate for the Huge Apple.
In a sit-down, tell-all interview with New York News inside his Decrease Manhattan workplace, Daughtry confirmed off some memorable, significant moments from his life. He recalled the assembly, pointing to {a photograph} of himself with President Joe Biden.
“He was very nice,” Daughtry stated of the forty sixth president. {A photograph} of Daughtry and President Barack Obama hung subsequent to this. The freshly minted deputy mayor mirrored on these high-profile conferences, coming to phrases with the place he’s now and the place he got here from.
“He was very nice,” Daughtry stated of the forty sixth president. {A photograph} of Daughtry and President Barack Obama hung subsequent to this. The freshly minted deputy mayor mirrored on these high-profile conferences, coming to phrases the place he’s now and the place he got here from.Picture by Dean Moses
Frank on LeFrak
Rising up in Queens’ LeFrak Metropolis through the Nineteen Nineties, he defined that he needed to be a cop to assist clear up his neighborhood. Nestled in Corona, the house complicated, on the time, was overrun with gang members and drug sellers. His mom would ship him on errands and he can be compelled to confront the seedy offers happening in broad daylight.
Daughtry stated he feared that, as he obtained older, they might come after him and entice him into a lifetime of crime.
“I saw that at a very young age, probably nine or 10 years old, and I was always concerned that eventually these guys are gonna try to come and approach me. And I didn’t like that, so that’s why I told my mom, and then she’s like, we gotta find something for you to do. I told her about the NYPD explorer program,” Daughtry recalled. “When I put that explorer outfit on, I was like, wow, this is what I really want to do.”
Though he stated different youngsters would tease him for his uniform, he had a dream he would come again to LeFrak Metropolis and cease the drug peddlers and clear up the needles that had been left scattered across the space. In 2006, he graduated from the police academy, after which in 2011, he grew to become a detective — a second he remembers effectively and a begin to making that dream a actuality.
“When I finally saw my name on that order for the promotion, that’s when it hit me — wow, I’ve made it,” Daughtry stated. “I’m like, this is great. A detective, like, I’m done. I thought I would never get another promotion in this agency again.”
Deputy Mayor for Public Security Kaz Daughtry. Picture by Dean Moses
However he would get many extra promotions—finally being named assistant commissioner after which deputy commissioner.
He made a reputation for himself, introducing drones to the NYPD in a significant approach for each responding to crimes and monitoring large-scale occasions like protests. The drones are additionally being utilized to deal with medical emergencies by dropping Narcan or units used to help these washed away by waves at seashores.
The criticisms
As quick as Daughtry rose by means of the ranks, the criticisms got here simply as shortly. Some throughout the division felt as if he was being promoted too quick, that he didn’t have sufficient time on the job to advantage the lengthy shadow he forged over police brass, and that he solely had the ability due to who he knew, not what he did.
Daughtry countered these critics by charging that these judging him have no idea him. He instructed New York News that he has labored exhausting through the years and that the naysayers don’t see the late nights and early mornings.
“The people that criticize me the most are retired because anybody that knows me will know that I give 100 and not just 10% but probably 150%. I’m constantly dedicated. I put my heart and soul into what I do,” Daughtry stated. “After speaking with them, I get messages from folks saying, like, wow, I didn’t expect him to be like that. He actually is a nice guy.”
Kaz Daughtry watches the FDNY set up a smoke alarm.Picture by Dean Moses
It isn’t simply these related to the NYPD who levy criticisms of Daughtry, a mentee of disgraced former Chief of Division Jeffery Maddrey, an outspoken advocate on social media, and hand-picked by Mayor Eric Adams.
Daughtry instructed New York News that he has but to use for a waiver and nonetheless has a number of months to take action. Nonetheless, he hit again, saying he feels as if the assaults are usually not a results of his actions however as an alternative as a result of persons are placing him alongside others.
“The journalists, the people that criticize me just because I’m associated with the mayor. I mean, I’ve done nothing to these people, and I know that in this role I’m going to be critiqued a lot, but just my mere association with the mayor of the city, I feel like they’re attacking me also. They go attacking the people that surround him,” Daughtry stated. “Just look at what I have done for this city. Made over 500 arrests, made 85 gun arrests. Literally spent from sun up to sun down in this city, and this is what you do to me?”
Loss of life threats and plans for public security
In the course of the interview, Daughtry revealed that he has confronted way over mere criticism throughout his ever-expanding function. The cop turned deputy mayor stated he has additionally acquired threats of violence to himself and his household. This, he stated, is a results of quickly turning into a public determine on the protest scene and for selling the evolution of drones.
Hearth commissioner Robert Tucker andDeputy Mayor for Public Security Kaz Daughtry. Picture by Dean Moses
“They have put my address up on the internet, they put up the car I was driving, they called my phone and told me I’m next. I’m still a cop at heart, I am kind of used to it,” Daughtry stated.
He asserts that the threats solely spur him onward to make a significant affect in his new function. Considered one of his first main targets is to broaden and guarantee communication between the departments of Correction, Hearth, Probation, Parks, Sanitation, Well being, Homeless Companies, Environmental Safety, Citywide Administrative Companies, and extra.
“I want to make sure that all these public safety agencies are communicating with each other. For a perfect example, this morning, I was on a call with the MTA. If an MTA officer stops a person from jumping a train turnstile when they run their name for a warrant, they don’t have access to go into the NYPD database to see if we are looking for that person. So, just imagine how many times somebody gets stopped by the MTA police where they can’t use that information. So, I want to make sure that when I speak with the MTA that we get working on sharing data when it comes to arrest warrants and so on and so forth,” Daughtry stated.
The NYPD has been touting main decreases in crime during the last 12 months, which Daughtry says he desires to construct upon. He defined that he desires the general public to really feel protected, not simply be protected. This got here with a promise of a number of upcoming bulletins, together with extra efforts with drones.
“Drone guy.”Picture by Dean Moses
Drone man
Daughtry says he has an excellent deal deliberate for 2025. Nonetheless, as it is usually an election 12 months, it’s potential that there shall be a brand new mayor in 2026, leaving Daughtry about eight months to make his mark. He factors out he’s not pondering that far forward, sustaining his deal with the place in entrance of him.
He admits he has come a great distance since he was a bit boy in LeFrak Metropolis, witnessing drug offers and making an attempt on his explorer outfit for the primary time. With all his accomplishments, his criticisms, and his future plans, New York News requested Daughtry to contemplate how he shall be remembered in years to come back.
He stated he hopes he shall be remembered for the work he has performed alongside police brass in serving to drive down crime, however he additionally is aware of he’ll perpetually be “the drone guy.”
“I also want to be known as the drone guy, because when I walk out the street, people go: ‘Oh, that’s the drone guy. There is the drone guy right there; he is always talking about drones,’” Daughtry stated.
