Sources say that Keechant Sewell announced her resignation abruptly on Monday after almost a year-and-a-half as the first female to lead the NYPD. Her sudden departure, they claim, caught City Hall by surprise.

Sewell sent an email to the department on Monday afternoon stating that he had decided to step down. While my time at the NYPD will end, I will not stop advocating for them and supporting their work. I will also continue to be a champion of the people of New York City.

Sewell, 51 years old, was sworn into office on January 1, 2022 after being nominated by Mayor Eric Adams.

She did not give a reason for leaving, and it wasn’t immediately clear who was going to take over as the leader of the largest police force within the country.

Edward Caban would take over the position of commissioner in the absence.

Sewell wrote to the approximately 55,000 NYPD members in a memo: “Since joining you, we have experienced tremendous tragedy, challenges, and triumphs.”

The email obtained by The Post stated: “I have seen your selflessness, compassion and heroics on a daily bases.”

Sewell wrote: “They have confirmed to me what many people have known for years around the world. You are a collective of dedicated public servants who work hard to ensure the safety of our city, engage our communities, and share what we know with partners to benefit the entire globe.” Please continue to do the good work you are doing to protect this city.

The Post reported that Sewell’s relationship had soured with City Hall in recent months. The commissioner was increasingly restricted when making key decisions for her department, The Post said.

A NYPD source told reporters on Monday that “She was tired.” “She was sick of being their puppet.”

Adams’ sudden resignation, according to sources, caught her by surprise.

A source in law enforcement said that “the mayor was caught off guard”. They did not expect her to leave today. They thought she would leave later in the summer.

Another source said, “She is a great person who cares about police officers, the public, and the rule law.” She would have been a great addition to this position if she had more authority.

Sources in law enforcement said that NYPD commissioners had historically been the ones who could promote cops from the ranks to detectives, and detectives into higher ranks. But Sewell was required to get approval from City Hall before he made the changes.

One source stated, “They bound her up.” “There are no executive decisions on her part. She can’t promote a police officer who has distinguished himself.

Sewell’s authority was weakened after she supported the Civilian Complaint Review Board in its decision to discipline the Department Chief Jeffrey Maddrey. Maddrey is the highest-ranking uniformed official of the department.

Sources say that Maddrey was well-liked at City Hall. They “wanted to give him a pass” in the 2021 gun case.

They said that the decision made Sewell more vulnerable to attack at One Police Plaza.

One law enforcement source stated that she was the fourth most powerful person within the police department, behind [Deputy Mayor Phillip] Banks and [mayoral assistant Timothy] Pearson.

Sources said that friends told them Sewell started to consider her resignation during the Memorial Day weekend.

Adams refused to comment on Monday whether he had been shocked by the resignation. He pointed The Post to a City Hall statement.

Sewell was thanked for her “steadfast and devoted leadership” in the statement.

The mayor stated that “her efforts played a major role in the administration’s relentless work to make New York City safe.”

“The commissioner worked almost 24 hours per day, seven days a weeks, for an year and a quarter, and we all are grateful for her services.” New Yorkers are indebted to her.”

Adams used a similar tone in a “community discussion” event held on Monday night in Flushing, where he praised and thanked Sewell for her work as commissioner.

He told the crowd: “I can’t tell you how much I value her service. I really appreciate what she has accomplished.” He noted that major crime categories such as homicides, shootings, and other violent crimes decreased during Sewell’s tenure.

Sewell was seen at City Hall around 3:45 p.m. but refused to answer questions. She was seen at City Hall about 3:45 pm, but refused to answer any questions.

Sources said that she sent her resignation email shortly before 4:30 pm, when she was scheduled to attend a Zoom meeting at City Hall.

Sewell is a 22-year veteran with the Nassau County Police Department. A Queens native, she spent the majority of her career on Long Island, before becoming the 45th NYPD Commissioner.

According to data from the Department of Public Safety, during Sewell’s tenure in the Big Apple, shootings decreased despite an increase in crime across the five boroughs.

Stats show that in her first year as president, murders and shootings both dropped by 13%. This trend continued this year, with a further 25% decrease in shootings.

In her first year, crime increased by 23%.

Sewell was more reserved than her predecessor. She declined to do one-on-one interviews and made fewer public appearances.

She rarely strayed off topic and refused to answer questions at press conferences.

She was liked by her colleagues for her work on the job. She deployed more NYPD officers in the subways, lobbied Albany legislators to relax controversial criminal reforms which allowed the majority of suspects to be released without bail.

In a press release, Patrick Lynch, President of the NYPD Police Benevolent Association said that Commissioner Sewell had made a significant impact in her brief time at the NYPD.

She took over a department in crisis, and she faced enormous challenges from the very beginning. Lynch stated that she cared for the police officers on the streets and was always willing to work with us to improve the conditions of their working lives and lifestyles. There are still huge challenges for the NYPD. “Her leadership will be greatly missed.”

DiGiacomo, president of the Detectives’ Endowment Association said: “The DEA salutes commissioner Sewell for leading NYPD during some of the most difficult and tragic times in its history.” Her support for the union and love for detectives were both genuine and sincere. “Commissioner Sewell’s historic nomination will not be soon forgotten.”

Shea’s resignation was met with controversy. Former Seattle Police Commissioner Carmen Best had been the favorite to succeed Shea.

Best was passed over because Adams, who is more hands-on and a better leader, had been deemed to be a better choice. This created a new position for Deputy Commissioner.