The NYPD’s first deputy commissioner Rafael Pineiro — the highest ranking Latino in the department — met secretly with Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio in Puerto Rico to make his case for replacing Commissioner Ray Kelly, The Post has learned.
Pineiro, a 40-year veteran of the department, talked with de Blasio for about half an hour over the weekend, two sources said.
It was not clear who initiated the meeting but the NYPD Hispanic Society made a very public push for the Cuban-born Pineiro two weeks ago.
Pineiro, whose family came to America when he was 12, was nearly kicked out of the police academy when his citizenship was questioned.
But he quickly produced his naturalization papers and sailed through the academy, graduating hear the top of the class and earning the Chief of Personnel’s Award for the highest academic and physical fitness scores.
De Blasio has made clear he wants to replace Kelly, whose stop-and-frisk policy de Blasio sharply criticized during the election campaign.
Pineiro, who would be the first Hispanic NYPD commissioner, has a bachelor’s degree in science, a master’s degree in public administration and a law degree.
De Blasio spokeswoman Lis Smith said, “We’re not going to comment on every rumor that is passed around the city. Bill has made no decision on this and when he does, he will make it known to the public.”