CBS2 Exclusive One-On-One: NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill On Keeping NYC Safe

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Just after police Commissioner James O'Neill officially took over as the city's top cop in September, there was a terror attack in Chelsea.

To say O'Neill has had a lot to handle would be an understatement.

CBS2's Kristine Johnson sat down with the commissioner and had a preview of their conversation early Monday evening. Johnson sought to get beyond sound bites from news conferences that we have all seen and heard.

O'Neill said dealing with a home-grown terror attack just hours after becoming commissioner did take him aback for a moment.

But he felt in complete control at the scene. With the advantage of having almost 34 years on the force, he knew everyone on a first-name basis – and he was confident that the investigation would move quickly.

O'Neill has been described "a cop's cop," which has its advantages and disadvantages.

"I understand what it's like to be a New York City cop, and I started out as a transit cop riding the subways back in 1983. Those are experiences that I'll never forget, and I certainly don't forget where I came from, and I think it makes it a little bit easier for them to relate to me," O'Neill said.

But he also noted that he received some backlash from the rank-and-file when he criticized a sergeant's choice to shoot and kill an emotionally disturbed woman in the Bronx.

"We just had the incident with Deborah Danner – I think it's three weeks ago now, where the sergeant responded to the call and he ended up shooting her, and I came out and I said that that was a failure for the Police Department, and I think the men and women – some of the men and women in the Police Department took exception to that," O'Neill said. "But it's my role to protect not only the people – the men and women of the NYPD, but it's my role to protect everybody in New York City."

O'Neill said he stands by his words despite the backlash.

On the CBS2 News at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Johnson will have more on O'Neill's vision for the city – including his main initiative of a neighborhood policing program. Johnson will also have O'Neill's remarks on the homelessness crisis, and the curveball thrown in the form of protecting a president-elect and his family in the middle of Manhattan.