John Chell, Top N.Y.P.D. Chief and Adams Ally, Retires NYT | Top Stories Maria Cramer 9 October 2025 at 05:25 John Chell, New York City’s top uniformed police officer, is leaving as Mayor Eric Adams’s term is soon to expire and uncertainty looms at the Police Department. © Angelina Katsanis for The New York TimesChief John Chell’s departure comes two weeks after Mayor Eric Adams said he would not seek re-election.