Callaghan Parente LLP was formed in 2005 by partners Daniel Parente and Leo G. Callaghan who decided to form the firm following very distinguished careers in the New York City Police Department, taking advantage of their experience in their many years of legal practice in both the public and private sectors.
In many respects the origins of the firm date back to 1984 when Mr. Parente and Mr. Callaghan met as young New York City Police Officers assigned to the same precinct in Queens. In the ensuing years their careers paralleled one another’s. They were promoted to Sergeant together in 1988. While still pursuing careers with the NYPD, Mr. Callaghan began his pursuit of a Juris Doctorate degree at New York Law School in 1990, with Mr. Parente joining him in 1991. While at New York Law they founded and were the first two presidents of the Law Enforcement Law Students Association (LELSA).
In the mid 1990’s, both men were senior analysts in the NYPD Police Commissioner’s management and planning unit, and played vital roles in developing and co-authoring many of
the crime strategies, which became the lynch-pins of historic drops in crime during Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s administration. Following their tenures with the planning unit, both partners were promoted to even more prestigious positions within the NYPD. Mr. Parente served as counsel and aide to Police Commissioner Howard Safir, advising on confidential issues including employee discipline, personnel matters and internal investigations. Mr. Callaghan served as special counsel to the department’s Chief of Personnel, advising department executives on an array of employment and personnel issues, including workplace drug testing.
At the time of the attacks of September 11, 2001, Mr. Callaghan served as managing attorney in the NYPD’s Legal Bureau, and played a vital role in the reorganizing of the NYPD’s post-9/11 counter-terrorism initiatives. Mr. Parente was the executive officer and managing attorney of the Legal Bureau’s Civil Enforcement Unit, where he commanded a staff of sixty-five including thirty-five attorneys. Mr. Parente retired from the NPYD as a Lieutenant, Special Assignment in 2003. Mr. Callaghan retired from the NYPD in 2004 as the Special Counsel to the NYPD’s Intelligence Division.