Edward Caban has become the first Latino commissioner in the 178-year history of the New York Police Department. Caban, who is of Puerto Rican descent, was sworn into his new post on Monday (July 17). He will now lead the largest police department in the U.S.

“[The NYPD’s] storied history is a living legacy of valor, bravery, and sacrifice – of ordinary New Yorkers who did extraordinary things,” Caban, 55, said. “To be the first Hispanic police commissioner is an honor of the highest measure.”

According to NBC News, Caban, who was born and raised in the Bronx, comes from a long line of police officers in his family. His father, Juan, is a retired NYPD transit police officer and three of his brothers are also in the NYPD. Caban earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from St. John’s University.

Caban joined the NYPD as a patrol officer in 1991. He was promoted to sergeant in 1994 and then to lieutenant in 1999. In 2005, he was promoted to captain and served as the executive officer of the 23rd Precinct in East Harlem. The following year, he became the commanding officer of the 25th Precinct.

During this time, Caban was accused of threatening a man who refused to show him his ID during a stop-and-frisk. A review board called the allegations of threats “unfounded” but ruled that Caban had wrongly issued the man a summons.

Caban continued to rise in the ranks until last year when he became the NYPD’s first deputy commissioner under then Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, who retired after only 18 months on the job.

Some of the challenges that are said to await Caban include solving recruitment issues and making New York residents feel safer in their city.