Overview
- Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced Kass’s death on Wednesday and described the loss as immeasurable, while officials did not release a cause.
- Kass joined the department in 1966 at age 30 as its youngest chaplain and became its longest-serving member, widely regarded as the NYPD’s spiritual heart.
- He was among the first to respond after the Sept. 11 attacks, consoling families of 23 fallen officers and later leading High Holiday services for recovery workers.
- He championed religious accommodations that let observant Jewish officers keep the Sabbath and extended that advocacy to Seventh-day Adventists.
- He was promoted in 2016 to an unprecedented three-star chaplain rank, and tributes from city leaders including Mayor Eric Adams hailed his compassion and guidance.