NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton has announced his second in command.

Benjamin Tucker will leave his current position as commissioner of training for the police department to serve as the first deputy commissioner.

Tucker is a 22-year veteran of the force who served as former Mayor Michael Bloomberg's chief executive of school safety. He has also worked on federal projects under both the Clinton and Obama presidencies.

Under his new role, Tucker will work closely with the NYPD inspector general, act as the NYPD advocate and oversee disciplinary action for officers. He is now the highest ranking African-American officer on the force.

Police Chief Phillip Banks was set to take the job before abruptly resigning last Friday. Many people have speculated that he made that decision because the position is a "figurehead spot," but Bratton and Tucker insist it is not.