Mamdani orders major NYPD shake-up amid revolt from progressive allies
Mamdani orders major NYPD shake-up amid revolt from progressive allies
Anthony IzaguirreTue, October 13, 2026 at 10:44 AM UTC
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani talks during a news conference near the scene of a shooting on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in New York (AP)Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ordered the New York Police Department to conduct a sweeping review of how officers use force against civilians
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New York City's police department has been directed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani to conduct a comprehensive review of its use-of-force policies, responding to mounting pressure from progressive supporters who want the democratic socialist leader to take firmer command of the country's largest police force.
The mayor outlined a series of oversight reforms on Monday, including expanding the budget for the NYPD's Office of the Inspector General and new policies aimed at strengthening accountability when officers face allegations of misconduct.
"When the government uses force against a New Yorker, the standard for accountability must be at its highest. Every New Yorker deserves to know that force will be used lawfully, carefully and only when necessary," the mayor said in a statement.
Mamdani, a Democrat, secured office last year after pledging to reshape municipal policing by shifting specific responsibilities away from armed officers to specialized mental healthcare teams. However, slow progress on these plans has drawn criticism from supporters advocating for more substantial systemic changes.
The administration has also faced intense scrutiny from left-leaning allies over the decision to keep police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, an establishment moderate retained from the previous administration.
Tensions heightened last week when Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist ally of Mamdani running for a House seat representing Manhattan and the Bronx, urged Tisch to step down following a shooting involving federal immigration agents in the city.
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The Democratic Socialists of America similarly demanded that Mamdani fire Tisch in response to the incident.
The Democratic Socialists of America have demanded Mamdani remove New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch (Getty)
According to City Hall, Monday's actions were prompted by an officer who managed to retire while facing internal disciplinary proceedings related to the 2024 fatal shooting of 19-year-old Win Rozario during a mental health crisis. The officer, who avoided criminal charges, retired before his departmental hearing.
Tisch acknowledged that the department should have alerted the city's Civilian Complaint Review Board during the retirement process, stating: "As a result of human error, we failed to do so, and I apologize for that mistake." NYPD representatives directed further inquiries to City Hall.
To address the loophole, the police department has introduced a system to ensure disciplinary processes are prioritized before retirement can take effect, Mamdani explained on Monday.
Furthermore, the city will formalize the procedure of notifying state authorities whenever an officer retires with active disciplinary charges, seeking to prevent them from being hired by other law enforcement agencies.
City Hall noted that the upcoming use-of-force review—the first such assessment conducted in ten years—will unfold over the coming months and actively incorporate community input.
The initiative faced swift pushback from Patrick Hendry, president of a local police union, who dismissed the measures in a statement: "The mayor’s radical base wants a wholesale dismantling of the NYPD, and it’s clear this announcement is an attempt to appease them. It won’t work, and it won’t make New Yorkers any safer."
Source: “AOL Breaking”
