Keith

Taylor

Dr. Keith Taylor has an extensive background in law enforcement and emergency preparedness. His career encompasses a diverse range of positions, including his service as a retired NYPD Sergeant Special Assignment and NYCD Assistant Commissioner, as well as a Deputy Undersheriff at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. He currently works as an adjunct assistant professor of criminal justice at John Jay College, where he imparts his knowledge and mentors future professionals in the field.

Dr. Taylor holds certifications as an International Association of Emergency Managers board Certified Emergency Manager and Federal Emergency Management Agency Master Exercise Practitioner, underscoring his commitment to excellence in emergency management. He has shared his knowledge by teaching Department of Homeland Security incident management courses nationwide to first responders. He is also an American Society of Industrial Security board Certified Protection Professional.

Dr. Taylor's involvement with the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit (SWAT/Heavy Rescue) equipped him with specialized expertise in Weapons of Mass Destruction response. His collaboration with the FBI/NYPD WMD Task Force earned him recognition from then FBI Director Robert Mueller for his role in mitigating a nationally significant incident at the United Nations. Dr. Taylor also served as a Planning Team Manager for the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team New York Task Force 1.

He was a 9/11 first responder and supervisor of the NYPD Missing Persons Squad and was inducted to the NYPD Honor Legion for his role in chasing and arresting armed bank robbers during a Bronx bank robbery incident. He is a graduate of FBI National Academy Session 294.

As the assistant commissioner in charge of the NYCD Intelligence Bureau, Dr. Taylor developed and improved policies, standards, evaluation methodologies, and specialized training programs, fostering effective interagency law enforcement coordination at local, state, and federal levels.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Taylor served his community by actively deploying for one year as a second lieutenant with the New York State Guard and was honored by the New York State Governor with the New York State Pandemic Response Service Ribbon.

Dr. Taylor has engaged with major news outlets such as CNN, Fox News, CBS, NBC, BBC, New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, al Jazeera, NPR, Univision, and many others, providing expert commentary on major criminal incidents and law enforcement
response. He has contributed regularly as a law enforcement analyst on Court TV's Closing Arguments program as well as Very Local's Crimes, Cons, and Capers program.

In 2023 Dr. Taylor was invited to present at the United States Mission to the United Nations, where he shared his expertise on the challenges posed by small arms and light weapons.

Dr. Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Howard University, followed by a Master's degree in Sociology from the City College of New York. He received a full scholarship to obtain a a Master's degree in National Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, followed by completing the FBI National Academy Session 294 and Masters degree in Public Safety from the University of Virginia. His doctorate in education is from Columbia University’s Teachers College.