Draft:Edwin Raymond

Edwin Raymond is an American author, civil rights activist, and former lieutenant with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). He is best known for being the highest-ranking NYPD whistleblower in the department’s history where he challenged the department’s quota system. His journey was featured in the 2021 Hulu documentary Crime + Punishment, alongside a group of 11 other officers. In 2023, Edwin co-authored his memoir An Inconvenient Cop: My Fight to Change Policing in America, detailing his early life and journey from officer to outspoken activist.

Early Life and Background

Raymond was born and raised in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, to Haitian immigrant parents. He lost his mother at the age of three and was raised by his father and extended family in a working-class neighborhood. Experiencing racial profiling, Raymond’s early life would later inform his commitment to justice and reform.

Career with NYPD

Raymond joined the NYPD in 2008 working primarily in Brooklyn precincts with aspirations of changing the system from within. Early in his career, he became frustrated with internal practices that, in his view, disproportionately harmed Black communities. In 2016, he became publicly associated with a group called “NYPD 12” who filed a class-action lawsuit against the department, alleging the continuation of illegal quota-based policing tactics despite public denials and policy bans.

At the time of the lawsuit, Raymond had already begun recording internal conversations and gathering evidence for his claims. His recordings and firsthand testimony provided rare insight into the persistence of racial and arrest-based quotas within the NYPD. The attention led to both positive recognition and negative criticism as civil rights advocates praised him for exposing department practices, while some law enforcement leadership pushed back on the allegations. In 2018, he was promoted to lieutenant, becoming the department’s highest-ranking officer to publicly challenge its policies.

In 2019, Crime + Punishment when on to receive critical acclaim and win a National Emmy Award for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary.

Activism and Community Engagement

In addition to his work within the department, Raymond has long been active in community organizing. He is a founding member of PLOT (Preparing Leaders of Tomorrow), a Brooklyn-based organization dedicated to mentoring vulnerable youth and promoting leadership development. He has also advocated for major legislative reforms, including “Raise the Age”, which ended the practice of automatically charging 16 and 17 year-olds as adults in New York’s criminal justice system.

Raymond has spoken at schools, universities, and community institutions across the country. He uses storytelling, education, and public dialogue to encourage civic engagement and promote institutional accountability. His activism is rooted in both lived experience and a belief in restorative justice.

Memoir and Media Presence

In 2023, Raymond co-authored An Inconvenient Cop: My Fight to Change Policing in America with writer Jon Sternfeld. The book offers a deeply personal account of his time in the NYPD, his internal conflicts, and his battle against a department he believes has structurally resisted change. Critics have praised the memoir for its clarity, courage, and unapologetic honesty.

Raymond’s story has been featured in numerous national and local outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and independent documentaries focused on American policing. He has received standing ovations for dramatized readings of his memoir at institutions like Medgar Evers College, where he combines theater and activism to create dialogue.

Political Candidacy

In 2021, Raymond ran for the New York City Council in District 40, representing parts of Flatbush, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, and Ditmas Park. His campaign focused on public safety reform, affordable housing, education, and transparency in city government. Though he did not win the local election, his campaign brought more attention to police reform and accountability in both local and national media.