A key issue in the race for City Hall got extra mileage Sunday — conjecture over who will be the next police commissioner.
GOP hopeful Joe Lhota floated the name of Joseph Esposito, the retired chief of department who was the longest-serving and highest-ranking uniformed NYPD officer when he retired in March after more than 44 years on the job.
Lhota says he would prefer to make no change at the top and keep Ray Kelly in place but is hedging his bet in case Kelly declines.
“He hasn’t made up his mind yet,” Lhota said. “There are individuals pushing him towards the private sector.”
Dan Levitan, a spokesman for Bill de Blasio, said the Democratic nominee is focused on the election.
“If elected he looks forward to building an administration that reflects the diversity of New York City,” he said.
But a coalition of groups representing the NYPD’s Hispanic officers is pushing hard for the next mayor to appoint a Hispanic officer.
At the top of their list is First Deputy Commissioner Rafael Pineiro, who would be the city’s first Hispanic top cop.
“There are numerous names being mentioned by the candidates worthy for consideration as police commissioner — none of whom are Latino,” said Dennis Gonzalez, president of the NYPD Hispanic Society.
“The question is, ‘Why not?’ Is this a tale of two cities? One white, one black? Latinos not included?”