From immigrant kid to NYPD chief: a life shaped by a mother's robbery
Wilson Aramboles, a Dominican immigrant who witnessed his mother’s robbery as a student, rose through the NYPD to become head of Special Operations and will march in the Dominican Day Parade.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Wilson Aramboles moved to New York at ten and grew up in the Lillian Wald Houses on Avenue D. While a City College student, his mother fell victim to a chain-snatching robbery on the Lower East Side, prompting him to join the NYPD and pursue public service. He began his career in precincts of northern Manhattan, later commanding the 33rd Precinct in Washington Heights, where Dominican officers now comprise three-quarters of the force.
His tenure included work with Bronx Narcotics, resulting in the confiscation of roughly nine kilos of cocaine and the survival of an undercover partner who was shot. Aramboles also served in the department’s elite Emergency Services Unit before being appointed chief of Special Operations. He will appear in the upcoming Dominican Day Parade, highlighting his ascent from immigrant newcomer to senior police leader.
Why it matters
The story illustrates how personal experience can drive an immigrant to attain a top law-enforcement role, reflecting diversity progress in the NYPD.
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