Janie McKennie and Michel Yant-Terry made history on Thursday after being promoted as the first Black female police captains within the Mount Vernon Police Department. McKennie is a two-time breast cancer survivor and now one of the first Black women captains on the Mount Vernon Police force.

Capt. Michel Yant-Terry was also honored at the Doles Center Promotion Ceremony. "It's an amazing opportunity, but it also just goes to show that, we look forward to the day where we don't have to be the first. We'll just be one of the many. So, that's just an amazing opportunity to open the door for that, and hopefully there's a lot more coming behind me," said Yant-Terry. According to Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, before their promotions, only four women rose to the rank of captain in Westchester County. Both women will serve as Commanding Officers of the Patrol and Detective Divisions. They start their first shift as captains on Friday.