Malin Leaving 20th Precinct
Top cop, retiring after 20 years in the NYPD to take a job outside the department, says UWS crime spike not a factor.
| 03 Feb 2020 | 04:33
Deputy Inspector Timothy Malin at the 2019 Straus News Westy Awards. (
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Malin addressed a community meeting at the precinct in October. (
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After two years as the commander of the NYPD’s 20th precinct, Deputy Inspector Timothy Malin is retiring from his Upper West Side post.
A 20-year veteran of the force, Malin said the decision to leave the NYPD was strictly personal; he has been offered a job outside the department that he could not pass up.
“The timing was perfect for me and my family,” Malin told the West Side Spirit Monday afternoon. He said the job would be a great opportunity, and a good fit as a parent of three young children.
His retirement comes amid a spike in violent crime on the Upper West Side, but Malin assured that he is not being pushed out by the top brass.
“That has nothing to do with it. Nothing is happening on the Upper West Side that isn’t happening all over Manhattan,” Malin said in reference to an uptick in robberies in 2019. He said he began applying for his new position back in September and has received great support from his commanders.
“The chiefs have been wonderful,” he said. “I have been receiving really nice notes. People are wishing me well.”
Malin could not reveal his new employer, but said a formal announcement would be made next week. Thursday, Feb. 13 will be Malin’s final day at the helm of the 20th precinct.
A Great Neighborhood and Great Officers
Throughout his career, Malin has been a big believer in community policing, showing up at community board meetings regularly and answering residents’ questions candidly. Before taking his current position, Malin served three years at NYPD headquarters working under Chief Terence Monahan to craft the department’s neighborhood policing program. Once he joined the 20th precinct, which holds jurisdiction from West 59th to West 86th Streets, he was able to implement the program, which involved adding new neighborhood coordination officers — who focus on working with the community to solve problems — to his ranks as well as assigning patrol officers to specific sectors of the neighborhood.
Malin said he was sad to leave the Upper West Side, a neighborhood he first came to love during his four years as the 24th precinct’s executive officer. He said he had been blessed with a great neighborhood and great officers.
“I told my officers when I came in two years ago that I would love to retire from the 20th,” Malin said. “Being able to run the 20th precinct was a dream come true.”