Chief James Secreto Called Back to Duty in Return to NYCHA

For the next phase of his long career in law enforcement, James Secreto has returned to his roots at NYCHA. 

After spending his childhood years at Brooklyn’s Albany Houses, Chief Secreto later had a 40-year career at the NYPD, where he devoted his last few years to leading the Housing Bureau. Less than two years since his January 2020 retirement, he was called back to duty in October to become NYCHA’s Vice President for Public Safety and Security.  

“It was like full circle for me, to have grown up in public housing and spending my first 17 years there, and then to be a PSA (Police Service Area) Commander and have my last five years finishing up as the Chief of Housing,” he said.  

In leading the NYPD’s Housing Bureau, whose 2,100 officers patrol NYCHA developments, Chief Secreto oversaw safety for the more than 400,000 residents across the city who call NYCHA home. Now working from within the Authority, he is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing all of NYCHA’s public safety services and activities.  

As a youth growing up at NYCHA, where his father worked for 23 years as a plumber, Chief Secreto developed an interest in law enforcement by having opportunities to “see the cops in action” in his neighborhood.  

“I said ‘that’s what I want to do; I want to make a difference,’” he recalled.  

The public safety veteran first joined the NYPD in 1979 at the 25th Precinct in East Harlem. Over the years, he attained several high-ranking positions before being tapped as Chief of Housing in November 2014. His five-year tenure with the bureau included a three-year period (2016 to 2018) in which violent crimes were at a record low, an achievement he was “real proud of.” 

After the Chief’s retirement from the NYPD was announced in December 2019, NYCHA Chair Greg Russ presented him with a plaque recognizing his efforts in maintaining safety at NYCHA developments. Chief Secreto said he was advised by former colleagues to come out of retirement to assume the role of NYCHA’s head of Public Safety and Security, as they believed his policing experience and background as a former resident made him a perfect fit. 

Having the chance to return to NYCHA and serve the community in a different capacity was an easy decision, he said.  

“I want to give back and make a difference,” the Chief stated.  

His immediate priority is to improve the overall safety of residents. Expanding programs for NYCHA youth is also top of mind for the Chief, who noted that the NYPD works with community youth through intervention programs. Other potential opportunities include a basketball league where youth can play with police officers and also participate in a classroom component for high school equivalency prep and financial literacy. 

“We’re going to try to make more of an impact on these kids who live in the developments,” he said.  

As he begins his first full calendar year back at NYCHA, Chief Secreto says he can “100 percent” relate to the experiences faced by residents. It’s important that citizens know they can count on someone to speak up for the issues that impact their everyday lives, he stated.  

“I would like to be someone who speaks for them,” Chief Secreto said.