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“We are absolutely thrilled to have Ray Kelly as the keynote speaker for our Annual Fall Dinner,” said Marsha Gordon, president and chief executive officer of the council, in a statement. “Commissioner Kelly’s efforts in reducing the city’s crime rate have helped spur economic growth in New York City, which has benefited Westchester’s economy as well. We look forward to his keen insights on some of the most pressing security issues facing our nation today.”
Kelly, a 45-year veteran of the New York Police Department, is the longest serving police commissioner in the city’s history. He was appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2002 after he previously served as police commissioner under Mayor David Dinkins from 1992 to 1994.
The NYPD became the first municipal police department in the U.S. under Kelly’s leadership to develop its own counterterrorism bureau and global intelligence program. Under his tenure, the department has driven crime down by 32 percent from 2001 levels, a release said.
Kelly served in 25 different commands in the department before being named commissioner. He was a combat veteran in the Vietnam War and retired as colonel from the Marine Corps Reserve after 30 years of service. He also holds a bachelor's degree business administration from Manhattan College, a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law, a master's of law degree from New York University Graduate School of Law, and a master's in public administration from Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
The council’s dinner will be held at the Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook on Oct. 23.
The Business Council of Westchester is a business membership organization, committed to helping businesses market, learn, advocate and grow. It is also actively involved in reviewing federal, state and county legislation and regulations in order to assess the potential impact on the business community and to influence the outcomes through advocacy when the business community’s interests may be affected, according to a release.
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