New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today swore in Simon Gourdine as the New York City Police Department's Deputy Commissioner of Trials at a promotion ceremony at One Police Plaza.

"I am pleased to appoint Simon to this important position. His immense qualifications and vast legal experience will be a major asset to the Department," Commissioner Kelly said.

Gourdine, 62, a life-long New Yorker, has served in several high-ranking positions within the New York City government. He served as General Counsel to the School's Chancellor; Director of Labor Relations
for the Metropolitan Transit Authority; Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs; Secretary of The Rockefeller Foundation; and in the U.S. Attorney's Officer, Southern District of New York.

From 1970 to 1982, Gourdine served as the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the National Basketball Association, and from 1990 to 1996 as the Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association. He has a graduate degree from Harvard University's Business Administration Program for Management Development and a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University Law School.

Since 1974, Gourdine has been a Member of the Board of Directors for the Police Athletic League; and since 1985 a Member of the Board of Directors for the Fresh Air Fund. In addition, he is a veteran of the Vietnam War, and was honorably discharged as a Captain in the U.S. Army in 1967.