WPCNR AULD LANG SYNE. By John F. Bailey. December 31, 2025:
This last day of the year not only ends the year, but it is also David Chong’s last day as Commissioner of Public Safety in White Plains.
Commissioner Chong’s greatest achievement as Commissioner the last 15 years is molding a police and fire department that is respected, appreciated, depended upon with confidence by the residents of this city of all walks of life, resulting in a city where crimes have been substantially lowered the last 15 years.
He has diversified the police and fire departments expanding the number of women officers and officers of diverse backgrounds.
He created a division expert and experienced to handle domestic violence and crimes against women with sensitivity, counseling and trauma conciousness, which are relentlessly promoted on the White Plains Department of Public Safety website.
The police are so respected in White Plains that no citizen is fearful of calling the police for any personal or neighborhood matter that they observe. Observers and witnesses trust the police to talk to them during investigations.
The Police number for general calls (not emergency, which is 911) 914-422-6111 number always answers and the appropriate division speedily directed to.
The website has recent police blotters, how the police can help you and is at https://whiteplainspublicsafety.com/
When an officer on patrol stops you in White Plains they are courteous, cordial, polite and nonaggressive. The officer displays no “attitude.” It is the David Chong way.
The officer, He or She are poised and demonstrate quiet composure. If a ticket is in order, it is presented with professional restraint without opinion or embarrassing comments. They enforce without embarrassment. They reflect their leader.
One of the most significant achievements of Commissioner Chong’s tour of duty in White Plains, in my opinion, as Commissioner was the record the police have compiled of not shooting or killing any persons in the city with their weapons in 14 years from 2011, the date of the fatal Chamberlain shooting.
I salute his department for this impressive record of incident management without use of firearms.
Mr. Chong’s talent and leadership of the department that has through his persuasive experience and obvious training cultivated it and reflected down through his staff has created a city-friendly law enforcement operation.
He changed the perception and reception and interaction with the Department with the people. Mr. Chong instilled a feeling of confidence in the police where people will speak with the police during investigations leading to quick apprehension and arrests.
He leaves his watch in White Plains today.
Thank you Commissioner Chong.
Your record says how good you are.
When I first met David Chong when he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety to newly appointed Commissioner of Public Safety Frank Strawb, it was during the first ball drop during the Delfino Administration. Mr. Chong was with his officers on crowd control and he said to me as he was turning to go closer to officers near the festive crowd:
“In White Plains, we lead from the front.”
That is what Mr. Chong always did for us.
