Benjamin B. Tucker began his career with the New York City Police Department in 1969 when he was appointed as a police trainee and trained to conduct an innovative school-based drug-prevention education program. He became a police officer in 1972 and was promoted to sergeant in 1987. During his 22 years with the NYPD, First Deputy Commissioner Tucker performed patrol, school task force, anti-crime, and community affairs assignments; later serving as a Police Academy instructor, legal advisor in the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Legal Matters, and the assistant director of the Civilian Complaint Review Board.