Welcome.
Louis Molina is a second generation decorated veteran of the United States Marine Corps; with over twenty years of experience in the public and private sector, namely in the criminal justice arena having uniquely worked in policing, the District Attorney’s office and corrections, which complemented his work in the field of human services assisting the homeless population. Louis is an expert in facilitating change, managing initiatives and has a one-of-a-kind perspective having served all areas of the criminal justice system.
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
-Winston ChurchillDuring his four years on active duty in the Marines, Louis served with the 2nd Battalion 3rdMarine Division and deployed to various parts of Asia. During his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal with star, Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Mast and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon for deployment on the USS Kitty Hawk.
Near the end of his time in active duty, Louis chose to pursue a degree from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Shortly after receiving his BA in Philosophy, he sought a career in law enforcement and was appointed in early 2000 to the New York City Police Department.
Louis Molina began his law enforcement career as a police officer with the NYPD reaching the rank of Detective Criminal Investigator after serving as an undercover officer, infiltrating criminal networks selling illegal narcotics. During his time with the NYPD, he was assigned to a number of bureaus, including Patrol, Housing, Detective, Internal Affairs, Organized Crime Control, Counterterrorism, and the Police Commissioner’s Office of Management Analysis & Planning. Ultimately, Louis dedicated over thirteen years of his life to protecting and serving the people of New York City.
Coupled with his experience, Louis Molina recognizes the sheer value of continued education and development. With that in mind, he completed courses in international politics at University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and earned two masters’ degrees: one in Public Administration from Marist College School of Management, and the other in Human Rights from Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. In 2014 he was admitted to the United States Department of Justice / Office of Justice Programs National Institute of Justice Scholars program for Law Enforcement, advancing the infusion of research and evidence into policing policy and practice. He successfully completed this three-year program in June 2017. And in July 2020 received a scholarship from Harvard Business School Fund for Leadership and Innovation to attend Harvard Business School (HBS) General Management Program. Louis completed this prestigious management program in November 2020.
This unrelenting dedication to progressive change has propelled Louis Molina in his career. Thanks to his expertise, he played integral senior and executive roles in a number of organizations in the public sector, serving as a contract Senior Police Advisor and Instructor for the United States of America Department of State, Deputy Chief Investigator with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of the NYC Department of Homeless Services, Chief Internal Monitor and Acting Assistant Commissioner for the NYC Department of Correction, First Deputy Chief of the Enforcement Division for the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission, and served as First Deputy Commissioner for Westchester County Department of Correction. Louis is currently the Assistant Deputy Mayor for Public Safety for the City of New York. Prior to Louis’ appointment/promotion to Assistant Deputy Mayor, he was the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction, a role he was appointed to on January 1, 2022. He is a veteran public safety leader with experience serving across multiple local government jurisdictions in the three main pillars of the criminal justice system: policing, district attorney’s office and corrections. In his previous position to his appointment to Mayor Eric Adams’s administration, Louis served as Chief of the Department of Public Safety for the City of Las Vegas, where he oversaw the city’s jail, deputy city marshal police force and animal protection services.
Louis has been operationalizing sustainable criminal justice reform practices and advancing the principles of social justice. Regardless of where his path leads him, Louis is certain of one thing: he wants to implement meaningful change by introducing integral programs that aid and navigate vulnerable populations, thus breaking the cycle of poverty, crime, and abuse.
Louis Molina thoroughly believes that in order to improve the criminal justice system and enhance the impact of social services, these systems need strategic disruption in how they are managed in order to address today’s challenges.
All in all, Louis is excited to drive change and evolve government in whatever ways he can. He is an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, American Society of Evidence Based Policing, New York State Sheriffs’ Association, and American Correctional Association.
