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Keechant Sewell, the former New York City police commissioner, has been hired by the Mets.
Nearly five months after she resigned as commissioner, Ms. Sewell will become the senior vice president of security and guest experience for the team, the Mets said in statement on Thursday.
Ms. Sewell, 51, who had a decades-long career in law enforcement before leading the New York Police Department, the nation’s largest police force, for less than 18 months, said the role would be her first in the private sector.
“The opportunity to bring my passions of community building and public safety to the Mets is truly a dream job,” she said in the statement. “This legendary organization is vital to local communities and so many across the world. I can’t wait to help be a part of building this world-class fan experience.”
Before her role in New York City, Ms. Sewell, who grew up in Queens, had been chief of detectives in Nassau County on Long Island.
Appointed by Mayor Eric Adams in 2022, Ms. Sewell became the first woman to lead the Police Department. During her short tenure, she made a strong impression on rank-and-file officers after morale plummeted following the coronavirus pandemic and racial justice protests in 2020.
But in June this year, Ms. Sewell abruptly resigned without giving a reason. At the time, current and former officials said she had found that her powers had been circumscribed by his mayor and his allies. Before her departure, rumors had circulated that Mr. Adams’s other appointees — specifically Philip Banks III, the deputy mayor of public safety, and Timothy Pearson, a senior adviser to Mr. Adams — were undermining her authority.
In July, Mayor Adams appointed Edward Caban as commissioner, making him the first Latino officer to lead the agency.
Ms. Sewell’s shift to the private sector after leading the department is not unusual. William J. Bratton, who served as commissioner twice before stepping down in 2016, had several private security consulting stints and founded his own consulting firm, the Bratton Group, which advised corporations like Rite Aid. James P. O’Neill, who was commissioner from 2016 until 2019, became Visa’s head of global security.
In announcing that Ms. Sewell had been appointed to the newly created position, which she will start this month, Katie Haas, executive vice president of ballpark operations and experience with the Mets, highlighted Ms. Sewell’s public service experience.
“Keechant will help us modernize our approach to safety and the guest experience at Citi Field,” she said. “While also strengthening our relationships with the community and all agencies of law enforcement and emergency services.”
Ms. Sewell’s salary in her new role was not disclosed.
For the Mets, the announcement comes after challenging a season, as the team — funded by billionaire owner Steven A. Cohen — missed the postseason despite spending a record amount on its player roster.
Mary Cramer contributed reporting.
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