Capt. Lavonda Wise (NYPD Twitter)
Dec. 9, 2020 By Christian Murray
The NYPD has appointed its first female captain and person of color to lead the 108 Precinct.
Capt. Lavonda Wise has just been named the new commanding officer of the 108 Precinct, which covers Sunnyside, Woodside and Long Island City.
Wise, who was transferred from the 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights, will lead a precinct for the first time.
She was second in command as the executive officer at the 115th Precinct prior to her appointment. She was also an executive officer at the 108 Precinct in 2015.
Wise, who has been with the NYPD for nearly two decades, takes over from Capt. Michael Gibbs who had the command for nearly 2 years.
Gibbs has been appointed as the executive officer for the NYPD Criminal Enterprise Division, which oversees organized crime.
Wise comes to the job with pedigree. Her mother was with the NYPD for approximately 30 years and was a detective.
The mother-and-daughter duo were profiled in the New York Post in 2016. Wise spoke about how her mother inspired her to join the force.
“I just remember being extremely proud of her and saying wow, you know, when I grow up I want to be a woman like that,” Wise said of her mother Detective Laverda Pugliese-Phipps.
Today the 108 is proud to welcome back and congratulate Captain Lavonda Wise as our commanding officer. We look forward to our time together and couldn’t be more proud of you with this impressive accomplishment. pic.twitter.com/jJ6lVgeYAm
— NYPD 108th Precinct (@NYPD108Pct) December 9, 2020
