New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch appointed Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Rev. A.R. Bernard as co-chief chaplains of the New York City Police Department during her 2026 State of the NYPD address on Tuesday.
Dolan, the archbishop of New York since 2009 and elevated to cardinal in 2012, has led one of the nation’s largest Catholic archdioceses. He is a member of the U.S. Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty.
Bernard founded the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn in 1978, building it into New York’s largest Evangelical church, known for community outreach and counseling programs.
“As I was thinking about who should be the next chief chaplain of the NYPD, one Hebrew word kept coming to mind—tzadik, a person of righteousness,” Tisch wrote. “Cardinal Dolan and Reverend Bernard are two of the most righteous people this city has ever known.”
The two clergy will oversee the NYPD’s Chaplains Unit, providing spiritual support and moral guidance to officers and their families. They are scheduled to be installed on Feb. 24.
Rabbi Elchanan Poupko, host of “The Jewish World Podcast,” called Dolan “a true bridge builder in New York City, beloved by Christians, Jews, Muslims and all faiths.”
“He has spoken forcefully against hate and antisemitism,” Poupko added. “I am happy to see he will now be enhancing the NYPD with his presence.”
During the address, Tisch also highlighted record-low gun violence in 2025, stated that the Bronx will be divided into two patrol borough commands and announced plans to implement a significant overhaul of officer training.
Tisch said the NYPD is also preparing for anticipated federal authorization to mitigate hostile drones ahead of major events, including the 2026 World Cup and the 250th anniversary of the United States.
