In November 2013, he was rumored to be on Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio's short list to replace Ray Kelly as NYPD Commissioner.
[5] Even before the 2013 New York City mayoral election, Piñeiro was referenced as a potential replacement for NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
[10][11][12] During a televised debate, de Blasio's opponent, Joe Lhota, stated Piñeiro would be his pick to replace Kelly were he elected.
In his statement, Gonzalez stated is this, "a tale of two cities, one white and one black, Latinos not included", apparently referencing the fact that Pineiro was not being recognized in the mainstream media but non-Hispanics were.
"[citation needed] In November 2013, he formally met with Mayor-elect de Blasio during the annual New York Hispanic legislative conference Somos El Futuro in Puerto Rico to discuss the NYPD transition.
[18] Much like Kelly, whom de Blasio stated he would not be reappointing, Piñeiro rose through the ranks of the NYPD from a beat cop to the highest echelon of its hierarchy.