BY SAL GRECO
A personnel change inside the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau that first drew attention in 2022 has resurfaced after a transcript obtained by The Sal Greco Show alleges additional details surrounding the reassignment of detectives connected to the department’s JFK Airport liaison position.
At the center of the matter are veteran NYPD Detective Diana Pecoraro and the now retired NYPD Detective Senice C. Black, both longtime members of the Intelligence Bureau with extensive careers inside the department.
The Publicly Reported Incident
In September 2022, the New York Daily News reported that then-NYPD Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell experienced an unexpected delay while departing John F. Kennedy International Airport on a personal trip.
According to the report, Commissioner Sewell—despite being enrolled in TSA PreCheck—was directed through general security screening, removed her shoes, and underwent a pat-down after a metal detector was triggered by a set of headphones rather than her NYPD shield. Sources quoted in the article stated Sewell accepted the screening, but a disagreement allegedly developed afterward between Detective Diana Pecoraro and members of the Commissioner’s security detail over how long the detail should remain at the airport after Sewell boarded her flight.
The Daily News reported that:
- members of Sewell’s protective detail wanted to remain until the aircraft departed;
- Pecoraro allegedly believed they should leave immediately because of airport operational responsibilities;
- tensions escalated during the disagreement;
- shortly afterward Pecoraro was reassigned within the Intelligence Bureau.
The article also included sources defending Pecoraro’s experience, noting that Port Authority officers reportedly had longstanding working relationships with her and considered her highly knowledgeable regarding airport procedures.
The Detectives
Public employment records indicate:
Detective Diana Pecoraro
According to public employee information:
- NYPD service beginning in 1985
- Detective Grade 1
- Previously assigned to the Intelligence Public Security Section
- Later assigned to the Intelligence Operations and Analysis Section.
Detective Senice C. Black
Public employment information shows:
- Entered NYPD service in 2006
- Former Detective Grade 1
- Served within the Intelligence Public Security Section
- Previously assigned to the Executive Protection Unit and the 103 Precinct
- Retired from the NYPD in February 2026.
Allegations Raised in Report By The Sal Greco Show
According to sources close to the matter, there are further allegations previously unknown publicly.
Among the allegations are that:
- Detective Pecoraro sought to return to the JFK liaison assignment after leaving the position.
- Personal relationships allegedly influenced that effort.
- Detective Senice Black, who assumed the liaison role after Pecoraro’s reassignment, was later removed despite allegedly doing nothing wrong.
- Pecoraro ultimately returned to the JFK liaison position and again received the position’s associated take-home vehicle after Black’s retirement in early 2026.
Why the Position Matters
The JFK liaison assignment is considered one of the Intelligence Bureau’s specialized operational positions.
Responsibilities can include coordinating between:
- the NYPD,
- the Port Authority Police Department,
- TSA,
- airline security personnel,
- and other federal and local law-enforcement partners operating at one of the nation’s busiest international airports.
Because of those responsibilities, assignments to the position often require years of institutional knowledge and established interagency relationships.
Questions That Remain
If the allegations are accurate, several questions naturally follow:
- What criteria were used in selecting the JFK liaison after the 2022 reassignment?
- Was Detective Black removed for operational reasons, retirement succession, or another administrative decision?
- Was there a formal competitive selection process?
- Did any internal recommendations or evaluations influence the final decision?
- Were any conflicts reviewed by NYPD leadership?
At present, no publicly available evidence answers those questions.
NYPD Asked for Comment
Prior to publication, The Sal Greco Show contacted the NYPD Deputy Commissioner, Public Information (DCPI) seeking responses to numerous questions regarding Detective Diana Pecoraro’s transfer from the JFK liaison assignment following the 2022 airport incident, her reported return to the position, the process used to fill the assignment, and whether any review was conducted into allegations of preferential treatment.
Among the questions submitted were:
- Whether Detective Pecoraro was transferred from the JFK liaison assignment following the 2022 incident involving then-Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell.
- Whether she later returned to the position in or around January 2026.
- Whether she currently serves as the Police Commissioner’s JFK liaison and whether the assignment includes a take-home department vehicle.
- What became of the detective who occupied the position following Pecoraro’s reassignment.
- What selection process was used to fill the position when it became vacant.
- Whether the position was posted internally or filled through a direct selection.
- Whether any NYPD executives, supervisors, or outside individuals recommended or advocated for Detective Pecoraro’s return.
- Whether the NYPD reviewed the reassignment for compliance with departmental transfer and appointment policies.
- Whether the Department is aware of allegations that personal relationships influenced the reassignment, whether those allegations were reviewed, and whether the NYPD denies Detective Pecoraro received preferential treatment.
As of the time of publication, the NYPD Deputy Commissioner, Public Information had not responded to these requests for comment. If the Department provides a response, The Sal Greco Show will update this article to include it in full.