Roosevelt Island Public Safety Chief Jack McManus Retiring At End Of Month Due To 9/11 Health Reasons - Residents Show Him Love, Respect And Appreciation For Service And Bringing Real Community Policing To Roosevelt Island

As previously reported, Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (PSD) Chief Jack McManus is retiring at the end of June after 6 years of service. Deputy Chief Kevin Brown will serve as Acting Chief until a permanent Chief is announced.

Chief McManus and Deputy Chief Brown At June 25 PSC Meeting Image From Frank Farance

Last May, Chief McManus explained the reason for his retirement:

Hello. This is Jack McManus from your Public Safety Department (PSD). Some of you may know that I was diagnosed with a serious World Trade Center related illness approximately five (5) months ago. Due to ongoing treatments, side effects from the treatments, and a lot of doctor appointments, I have been forced to make adjustments to my work schedule. Most weeks I am on the Island and in my office on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Recently, my physician informed me that I will have to continue these treatments for the foreseeable future, which will necessitate the continuation of my abbreviated work schedule. PSD Deputy Director Kevin Brown has been standing in for me and doing a phenomenal job. Deputy Brown has been with us for almost three (3) years, and he has a solid commitment to the Roosevelt Island Community -- to keeping everyone safe, improving the quality of life on the Island, and continuing to police within the Community Policing Model which has proven to be successful on Roosevelt Island.

After discussions with the RIOC Executive Team, we have agreed that as of June 30th my position as Chief/Director of PSD will come to an end, but I will continue to actively participate in significant public safety activities on the Island.....

On Tuesday June 25, members of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Safety Committee and other residents

Image From Frank Farance

gathered together to tell Chief McManus how much he has meant to our community and to thank him for his service. It was a remarkable occasion of residents expressing their deep personal affection and respect for Chief McManus and appreciation for the positive transformation and professionalism he brought to the Roosevelt Island PSD after years of tension and conflict between many in the community and the PSD. There was much love, laughter and even tears in the room.

Watch the video of what happened. It was a wonderful time and Chief McManus deserves all the respect, appreciation and love that was shown in the room.



Resident Adib Mansour was one of about 20 people thanking Chief McManus Tuesday evening. According to Mr. Mansour:

I was part of the RIRA Public Safety Committee when we took upon us to document the harsh regime of Chief Guerra’s Public Safety. Every morning I used to tell my kids “be aware of Public Safety”. After the ousting of Guerra, the committee had numerous meeting to decide what does it take to have the perfect Public Safety Chief? The answer came to us on a silver platter.. it took Chief Jack McManus!

He was kind, generous, friendly and quickly got the love of the community. He was good at his job and mostly went out of his way to help and make sure everyone was safe… and happy.

Coinciding with my hire to run the soccer league for the Youth Center, I had the idea to have Public Safety coach some of the teams. Jack jumped at the idea and decided to coach the older kids (ages 15-16)

along with officer Laszcyzch. He immediately took upon himself to teach his team the meaning of teamwork and its responsibility. He often went to a few of the players’ homes in the morning to make sure they attended the games. I often heard him say “You are a crucial member of your team”, or “you have responsibility to your teammates”. He was crucial in making the soccer program a huge success for 3 years when I had 400 players in the league.

Jack made Roosevelt Island his home, and its residents his friends and family. I welcome him to my home any time!

The island gained a wonderful Chief and a great person, and my family gained a friend!

He will be missed… but I am sure we won’t stop texting each others.

On July 25 RIOC will be hosting a Celebration for Jack McManus that the entire Roosevelt Island community is invited to attend.

Below is RIOC Press release announcing retirement of Chief Jack McManus and naming Deputy Chief Kevin Brown Acting Chief:

RIOC Public Safety Department Chief Jack McManus Retires Deputy Director Kevin Brown named Acting Chief

Jack McManus, who has served as the Chief of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s (RIOC) Public Safety Department (PSD) since 2013 will officially retire as of Sunday, June 30th. Deputy Director Kevin Brown will serve as Acting Chief until a permanent replacement is announced in the near future.

Chief McManus’s implementation of community policing is credited for not only making Roosevelt Island one of the safest neighborhoods in New York City, but for improving the department’s relationship with the community.

Despite his retirement, Chief McManus will continue to serve Roosevelt Island as an invaluable advisor on the planning and implementation of various security initiatives.

“Jack came to the Island at exactly the right time,” said Susan Rosenthal, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. “His constant professionalism and dedication to duty not only turned around the department, but also changed the way our residents and peace officers interact with each other. The mutual respect Jack was able to foster between PSD and the community should serve as a model for other departments in similar communities across the nation. I am confident that Acting Chief Brown will continue the great work that Jack has started.”

Before coming to the Island more than three years ago, Acting Chief Brown was a thirty-two-year veteran of the New York Police Department. He held a variety of key roles within the NYPD, including serving as the commanding officer of the Operations Division during the 9/11 tragedy.

“(Kevin) has a solid commitment to the Roosevelt Island community,” outgoing Chief McManus said in a recent interview. “His main goal is to continue to keep everyone safe and help improve the quality of life on the Island.”

UPDATE 10 PM:

SAVE THE DATE! On July 25th, @RIOCny will sponsor: 'The Public Safety Department & Us: A Community Celebration of Cooperation & Respect.' Retiring PSD Chief Jack McManus will also be honored. Time, location & details TBD. #RooseveltIsland #Manhattan #NYC #NYPD pic.twitter.com/vJ0ZgyYS34

— RIOC NYS (@RIOCny) June 28, 2019