Bill Bratton Resigning as NYPD Commissioner

By Melissa Russo and Jonathan Dienst 

NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton is resigning as the city's top cop, and he will relinquish the reins to Chief of Department James O'Neill in September, Mayor de Blasio announced Tuesday. 

De Blasio lauded the commissioner's contributions to New York City since taking over the job in January 2014 and praised the man who will replace him, a veteran cop with more than 30 years on the force who grew up in the city and whose experience he said will advance the work of neighborhood policing.

"I don't think anyone could've imagined a more productive 31 months," de Blasio said. "We will never forget or fail to honor the achievements of Bill Bratton."  

Of O'Neill, he added, "Jimmy is the real thing in every way."

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Related story: What to Know About Chief James O'Neill, the Next NYPD Commissioner

Source: NBC News