The soon-to-be face of the NYPD once bared a striking resemblance to the tough-talking police commissioner played by Tom Selleck on the hit CBS series “Blue Bloods” — a fact the next commissioner admits himself.
Chief of Department James O’Neill, who is set to take over the reins of the NYPD when current Commissioner Bill Bratton steps down next month, acknowledged the likeness on Twitter on Thursday.
Hey #TomSelleck I think I have you beat on the mustache. #tbt #NYPD from the '90s @BlueBloods_CBS Thx @DeanMeminger pic.twitter.com/jfh0sZghv8
— James P. O'Neill (@NYPDChiefofDept) August 4, 2016
The photo of O’Neill was taken when he served as a lieutenant during the '90s. He was named chief of department in 2014 and no longer has the mustache.
He was responding to a tweet from NY1 reporter Dean Meminger, who first pointed out the striking likeness.
New #NYPD commish James O'Neill next job may be replacing #police commish #TomSelleck on #BlueBloods. pic.twitter.com/tZkydcVP7T
— Dean Meminger (@DeanMeminger) August 4, 2016
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday called O'Neill the "perfect person to succeed" Bratton, who is leaving for a job at a private-consulting firm.
Selleck, who plays NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan on the show, is widely popular among police officers and even narrates an NYPD promotional video.
