Oral history interview with Benjamin Ward 1992

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Name: Ward, Benjamin, 1926- (Interviewee); Zane, Sharon (Interviewer)
Title: Oral history interview with Benjamin Ward 1992
Other Titles: Reminiscences of Benjamin Ward : oral history, 1992
Abstract: Family background and education; experience of discrimination towards African Americans during youth; military service in World War II; career in New York City Police Department, 1950-74; patrolman in Greenwich Village, graduation from Brooklyn Law School and promotion to police department prosecutor, head of Civilian Complaint Review Board, Deputy Commissioner for Community Affairs, Traffic Commis sioner; retirement from police force and employment with Vera Institute of Justice, 1974-75; Commissioner of Correction Services for State of New York, 1975-78; Chairman, New York City Housing Police, 1978-79; Commissioner, New York City Department of Correction, 1979-84; Commissioner, New York City Police Department, 1984-1989; concerns as Police Commissioner: morale, shortage of personnel, New York City's narcotics problem, allegations of police brutality, underrepresentation of minorities and women in police department; relationship of police department with City Hall, Policemen's Beneveloent Association, press; reminiscences of Mayor Edward I. Koch.
Collection Name: Edward I. Koch administration oral history project
Subjects: Police chiefs; Ward, Benjamin, 1926-; Koch, Ed, 1924-2013; New York (N.Y.). Mayor
Format: oral histories; sound recordings
Genre: Interviews
Date: 1992

Physical Description: sound file : digital preservation master, WAV files (96 kHz, 24 bit)
Note (Biographical): Former Commissioner of the New York City Police Deparment.
Note: Interviewed by Sharon Zane on September 15, September 22, October 13, and October 20, 1992.
Note (Provenance): Benjamin Ward, Gift 1992
Language: English
Library Location: Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University
Catalog Record: 11691011
Persistent URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-8whz-1w14
Related URLs: Available digital content for this interview.