Title: Police Sergeant
Company: New York City Police Department Counterterrorism Bureau
Location: Freeport, New York, United States
Dr. Darnell R. Downes, police sergeant for the New York City Police Department Counterterrorism Bureau, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in law enforcement.
Though he began his professional life as a physical therapist assistant, Dr. Downes found his calling changed by the tragic events of 9/11. With his office at the time located within sight of the World Trade Center towers, he was deeply affected by this attack and felt a calling to shift toward law enforcement. Pursuing that calling with passion and focus, Dr. Downes has now served in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for 20 years. His law enforcement career began as a police officer with the city’s 67th Precinct.
In his early years with the NYPD, Dr. Downes contributed to Operation Impact. This multiagency initiative focused on reducing street crime in New York City through collaboration between agencies, community engagement and targeted deployment of officers to areas with high crime rates. Quickly progressing in his esteem and responsibilities, Dr. Downes moved on to roles in the Brooklyn South Task Force, the mayor’s security detail, the Intelligence Bureau, and the 114th and 111th Precincts. He was promoted to police sergeant in 2017 and took on a position in the NYPD’s Office of Management Analysis and Planning in 2018.
Since 2024, Dr. Downes has served as a police sergeant with the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau. As part of his responsibilities, he monitors global terrorism issues and communicates to his chiefs regarding how they might impact New York City. Dr. Downes provides familiarity and confidence in handling both domestic and international issues. He also demonstrates a strong understanding of critical safety infrastructure.
Dr. Downes’ performance in the field was born of his academic journey, beginning with a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the New York School of Career and Applied Studies at Touro University in 2000. In 2015, he obtained a Master of Arts in human resources and training development from Seton Hall University. Subsequently, Dr. Downes earned a doctorate in professional studies and homeland security from St. John’s University in 2024. He was the first member of the NYPD to earn this doctorate and was part of only the second cohort since the program began in 2019. Dr. Downes considers earning his doctorate to be the most noteworthy achievement of his career. Eager to lift up others, he became an adjunct professor at Monroe Community College in 2025, teaching an emergency management class alongside his primary vocation.
Committed to lifelong learning, Dr. Downes has bolstered his education with a large amount of professional training. He is certified in sports event risk management, critical asset risk management, critical infrastructure security and resilience awareness through the Federal Emergency Management Agency; in social media and open source virtual specialized analytics and prevention, prevention and deterrence of terrorist acts, and hostile surveillance detection through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; as a notary loan signing agent through Nassau County; as a notary public through the New York State Department of State; as a federal air marshal through the Transportation Security Administration; in auto crime theft investigations, specialized protective security, dignitary protection and surveillance through the New York City Police Department; and in online teaching essentials through St. John’s University.
In addition to his professional life, Dr. Downes is a loving father to three children, aged 5, 7 and 12. He enjoys filling his free time with reading, basketball and spending time with his kids. Looking ahead, Dr. Downes is dedicated to continuing to improve the NYPD’s ability to track and prevent terrorist activity by implementing cutting-edge technologies. He also hopes to devote more energy and resources to teaching and consulting in the future.
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