WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. May 26, 2006: The City of Mount Vernon turned the page into the future today, when Mayor Ernest D. Davis swore in David Chong, formerly Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety of White Plains, as Commissioner of Public Safety for his city.

 In a ceremony thronged by media, dignataries, and politicians, Commssioner Chong surrounded by family and friends from White Plains, the NYPD and well-wishers of all walks of life in Mount Vernon, who seemed to be looking at him as a messiah, took his oath of office and started his new job this afternoon. In addition he received two awards from Asian-American organizations for his history-making appointment. 

 Commissioner Chong told The CitizeNetReporter his first task was to meet each and every one of "the fine men and women of this police department," this very afternoon.

David Chong Addresses the Mount Vernon multitudes Friday morning after his swearing-in as the first Asian-American Commissioner of Public Safety in the U.S.A. Mayor Ernest D. Davis of Mount Vernon, is to Mr. Chong's left. State Assemblyman Gary Pretlow is behind Mr. Chong. The one hour swearing-in featured a parade of speakers welcoming Mr. Chong to the city.  Photo, WPCNR News.

Mayor Ernest D. Davis, in a WPCNR exclusive interview, noted that he brought Mr. Chong to Mount Vernon because "He's a people person. He connects police with the community. He's also a top cop, he can bring that knowledge to the department. He can structure it, map it so it's efficient. He wants to do a great job. He's young, has good experience and fresh ideas." Photo, WPCNR News.

Mayor Davis seems to be on the right track. Young men gathered on the steps of city hall after the ceremony told CitizeNetReporter that the Mount Vernon police "judged a book by its cover," and another comment from a college student who said he was finishing his degree, looking to join the work force soon and was pulled over and given a ticket for tinted windows and a noisy muffler, costing him a day of work when he went to court. His point was that the police officer giving the ticket seemed to be picking on him.

A Councilman for Mount Vernon, J. Yuhanna Edwards,  addressing the crowd that included News 12, WCBS-TV, and reporters from international media, pointed out to Mr. Chong, and hoped he would address the sociological aspects of Mount Vernon's crime problem and the root causes -- "the pathology" of crime among the youth. All addresses were highly positive to Mr. Chong. When the WPNCR left Mount Vernon City Hall, Mr. Chong had already strode down the City Hall steps to start his job by meeting his new department.