Jamiel Altaheri

Jamiel Altaheri
Born (1983-02-23) February 23, 1983
CitizenshipAmerican
EducationBrooklyn College; Seton Hall University; John Jay College of Criminal Justice; University of Virginia
OccupationsLaw enforcement officer; executive manager
Years active2000s–present
Employer(s)New York City Police Department (former); Hamtramck Police Department (former); J&K General Contracting
Known forPolice captain, New York City Police Department; Chief of Police, Hamtramck Police Department
SpouseSameha Altaheri

Jamiel S. Altaheri (born February 23, 1983) is an American law enforcement officer and executive manager. He is the first Yemeni American Police Chief in the United States and the first Yemeni American to attain the rank of police captain in the NYPD and has been described as one of the highest-ranking Muslim officers in the department.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Early life and education

Jamiel Altaheri grew up in Downtown Brooklyn, New York, and attended public schools in the New York City Public School system. He attended Telecommunication Arts & Technology High School in Brooklyn.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Finance from Brooklyn College and obtained a Certificate of Achievement in Accounting from the same institution. He later received a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management from Seton Hall University.

Altaheri also completed a Graduate Certificate in Policing in a Multicultural City from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Justice from the University of Virginia.

In March 2016, Altaheri graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

He later obtained a PhD in Criminal Justice from Liberty University with a concentration in Homeland Security. His doctoral thesis examined Muslim leaders’ perceptions of neighborhood policing in the New York City Police Department.

Career

New York City Police Department

Altaheri served with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), including as commanding officer of the department’s Office of Equity and Inclusion.[7][6][5][8][9] During his tenure, he held assignments in several units, including the 70th Precinct, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the Vice Enforcement Squad, the Narcotics Division, the Housing Bureau, Police Service Area 1, the Internal Affairs Bureau, Transit District 32, the Homeless Outreach Unit, and the Employee Management Division.

He served as executive officer of the 20th Precinct on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and previously as executive officer of the 23rd Precinct in East Harlem. He was later appointed commanding officer of the 115th Precinct.[10][11]

In 2015, Altaheri became the first Yemeni American to attain the rank of police captain in the NYPD.[4][12] During his service, he was also certified by the department as an Arabic linguist.

In 2016, Altaheri was honored by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., recognizing community leaders from the Bronx Muslim community.[13][14]

Altaheri also co-founded the NYPD Muslim Officers Society[15][16] and served as director of public relations for the NYPD Middle East & Turkic Society.[7] He later founded the Yemeni American Law Enforcement Officers Association (YAELOA) and has been affiliated with the First Fraternal Organization, where he represented officers of Middle Eastern and Turkish descent.[17]

Hamtramck Police Department

In February 2024, following his retirement from the NYPD, Altaheri was appointed chief of the Hamtramck Police Department in Michigan, becoming Hamtramck's first Yemeni American police chief in the United States.[18][13][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

During his tenure, Altaheri introduced several community-oriented initiatives, including establishing a youth academy and a citizens police academy to promote engagement between the police department and local residents. He also oversaw efforts to modernize aspects of the department’s operations and introduced a redesigned departmental logo inspired by the insignia used by the New York City Police Department.

In February 2026, Altaheri was appointed Assistant Police Chief of the New York City Health + Hospitals Police Department. He later resigned from the position, citing conflicts of interest and plans to pursue work in political and public relations as well as consulting.

In May 2025, he was placed on paid administrative leave following allegations of misconduct.[27][28][29] The city commissioned an independent investigation by the law firm Miller Johnson, which reviewed documents and interviewed witnesses regarding the allegations.[30][31] The report substantiated several claims,[32][33] including that Altaheri had driven a city vehicle after drinking alcohol, asked an evidence technician to wipe his phone, and pressured officers in connection with a custody dispute. In August 2025, Hamtramck officials began proceedings to remove him from office.[34] In October 2025, Altaheri settled with the city and resigned from his position and reached agreement with the City of Hamtramck exonerating him, allowing him to receive severance pay. [35][36][37][38][39][40][41]

After leaving public office, Altaheri became head of political and public relations for J&K General Contracting and began developing a consulting practice.[42]

In 2026, Al-Taheri joined the fire service in Tylertown, United States, after completing firefighter and emergency response training, and was subsequently appointed the department's Director of Public Relations.

Community service and civic engagement

Altaheri has been involved in community initiatives within the Yemeni American and Arab American communities in New York City. In 2017, he helped organize the establishment of the Yemeni American Community Center in the Morris Park section of the Bronx after a community effort to purchase the building. The center provides social, educational, and family support services to members of the local community.

He also founded the Yemen United Soccer Club, a youth organization in New York City that organizes sports tournaments and youth activities.

Altaheri has participated in public events and conferences on topics such as community policing, religious tolerance, diversity in law enforcement, and interfaith relations. He has delivered lectures to members of the United States military, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations on issues related to policing and cultural awareness.

In 2017, Altaheri participated in a panel discussion at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference in Austin, Texas, focusing on the role of film in international dialogue. He also appeared in the PBS documentary Poet Against Prejudice, directed by Faiza Almontaser and produced by BYkids.

Altaheri has also participated in public discussions addressing hate crimes and interfaith relations between Muslim and Jewish communities.

Altaheri has been referenced in several books related to immigration, policing, and civil rights, including America Is Immigrants (2019) by Sara Nović; Racial Profiling and the Use of Suspect Classifications in Law Enforcement; and Policing: The Essentials (2021) by Carol A. Archbold, Carol M. Huynh, and Thomas Mrozla.

Personal life

Altaheri grew up in Brooklyn and later lived in the Bronx, New York. He is of Yemeni heritage and has been described as a descendant of King Amir bin Abdul-Wahab Altaheri, associated with the Tahirid dynasty, an Arab Muslim dynasty that ruled parts of Yemen between 1454 and 1517.

He has spoken publicly about his experiences as a Muslim American law enforcement officer and about challenges faced by immigrant communities in the United States. He has also discussed issues such as discrimination and bullying affecting Muslim families.

Altaheri was married to Sameha Altaheri and had five children. He is now divorced.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Muslim NYPD officer on advice he gives bullied daughter". Archived from the original on 2026-01-12. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  2. ↑ "NYPD's 115th Precinct welcomes new commanding officer – QNS". qns-com-develop.go-vip.net. 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  3. ↑ "Police chief, contractor collaborate to build new roof for neighbor in Hamtramck". Archived from the original on 2025-09-30. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  4. 1 2 "Faith-Based Terrorism Requires an International Response". Stockton University. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  5. 1 2 "Yemen-born Filmmaker to Respond to Trump Travel Ban - National Yemen". Užsienio Kazino (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  6. 1 2 "Faiza Almontaser to respond to Trump travel ban - Yemen-born filmmaker of "Poet Against Prejudice" - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  7. 1 2 Rahman, Nargis (2024-02-08). "Hamtramck hires first Yemeni Muslim American police chief". WDET 101.9 FM. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  8. ↑ "NYPD's 115th Precinct welcomes new commanding officer – QNS". qns.com. 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  9. ↑ Garza, By John Carlisle Visuals by Ryan. "Yemeni immigrants carve out a new homeland in Hamtramck". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  10. ↑ Staff, Csdef. "New Year's Eve Bucket List Trip Revisited: How One Act of Kindness Became Contagious". CBS58. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  11. ↑ "Leadership and Reform Efforts: Jamiel Altaheri's Tenure at the Hamtramck Police Department - Dutable". 2026-06-06. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  12. 1 2 Khurshid, Samar. "Muslim Immigrant Family of NYPD Captain to Lead Pledge of Allegiance at State of the City". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  13. 1 2 Taylor, Marcus (October 25, 2025). "Former Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri Resigns with Severance amid Controversy". Hoodline.com. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  14. ↑ "BRONX TIMES REPORTER" (PDF). Crrli.com. July 7, 2016. p. 36. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  15. ↑ sajadi (2024-05-16). "Jamiel Altaheri, the First Muslim Police Chief in City of Hamtramck". En.minanews.net. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  16. ↑ "Hamtramck Welcomes Jamiel Altaheri as First Yemeni Muslim American Police Chief in Landmark Hire". Hoodline. 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  17. ↑ "First Responder Friday honors NYPD Captain Jamiel Altaheri". ABC7 New York. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  18. ↑ Wirsing, Robert (2016-06-28). "Diaz Honors Muslim Leaders – Bronx Times". www.bxtimes.com. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  19. ↑ Warikoo, Niraj. "Hamtramck hires New York veteran as police chief, first minority to lead department". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  20. ↑ csercombe (2024-05-17). "Another historic day in Hamtramck and its police department". The Hamtramck Review. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  21. ↑ csercombe (2024-05-10). "There's a new police chief in town". The Hamtramck Review. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  22. ↑ "Police Chief Hired to Help Lead N.Y.C. Hospital Patrols Abruptly Quits". DNYUZ. 2026-02-19. Archived from the original on 2026-03-08. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  23. ↑ City, Dean Meminger New York. "NYPD Muslim Officers Society To Trump, Carson: Stop Scapegoating Islam". ny1.com. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  24. ↑ "Innocent driver killed after two women assault Hamtramck cops, crash during high-speed chase | FOX 2 Detroit". www.fox2detroit.com. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  25. ↑ csercombe (2025-05-23). "Breaking news ... City manager says his job is on the line; special council meeting today". The Hamtramck Review. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  26. ↑ "Yemen-born filmmaker responds to Trump travel ban". Archived from the original on 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  27. ↑ Warikoo, Niraj. "Hamtramck police chief and officer placed on leave as investigation opens". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  28. ↑ "Hamtramck city manager placed on leave amid tense city council meeting". Archived from the original on 2025-06-03. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  29. ↑ csercombe (2025-06-13). "Chief's offer of a gun: a 'joke'". The Hamtramck Review. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  30. ↑ csercombe (2025-05-21). "Update … Police chief is under investigation and suspended". The Hamtramck Review. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  31. ↑ Cunningham, Darren (2025-05-24). "Hamtramck emergency meeting concerning police chief ends without decision". WXYZ 7 News Detroit. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  32. ↑ csercombe (2025-06-20). "Police chief responds to gun recording". The Hamtramck Review. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  33. ↑ Cunningham, Darren (2024-10-10). "1 dead, others injured after high-speed police chase in Hamtramck". WXYZ 7 News Detroit. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  34. ↑ Murdoch, Robin (2025-05-27). "Hamtramck police chief suspended: City council votes to suspend city manager". FOX 2 Detroit. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  35. ↑ "Former Hamtramck police chief considers role working for NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani". FOX 2 Detroit. 2025-11-14. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  36. ↑ Sayles, Samantha (2025-10-23). "Hamtramck police chief resigns, reaches settlement with city". WDIV. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  37. ↑ csercombe (2025-10-17). "Former police chief and city agree on separation". The Hamtramck Review. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  38. ↑ "Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri resigns, reaches agreement with city". Archived from the original on 2025-12-06. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  39. ↑ Warikoo, Niraj. "Ex-Hamtramck police chief who promoted diversity resigns, reaches agreement with pay". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  40. ↑ "City of Hamtramck votes to fire police chief, city manager (updated) | FOX 2 Detroit". www.fox2detroit.com. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  41. ↑ Reinhart, Max. "Hamtramck's top cop resigns as lawyers for former officials trade barbs". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  42. ↑ "islamstory | Policías musulmanes de Nueva York piden respeto a precandidatos presidenciales". www.islamstory.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-07-22.
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