Police Commissioner Supports Reform But Not Candidate
The former top police official in Suffolk County, who once held a prestigious position within the NYPD, has expressed his views on police reform in New York City while refraining from endorsing a particular candidate.
Rodney Harrison, the Suffolk Police Commissioner, recently met with mayoral hopeful Zoran Mamdani and voiced his support for law enforcement reforms proposed by Democratic leaders, including the idea of deploying mental health and outreach professionals to handle non-violent calls traditionally managed by police.
“While I’m not officially backing any mayoral candidate, my over 30 years in law enforcement gives me a perspective on what it takes to ensure New York City remains safe,” Harrison remarked in a statement.
He elaborated on his support for sending trained mental health clinicians to respond to 911 calls related to non-violent mental health crises. This, he believes, would enable officers to focus on more severe incidents like violent crimes and robberies.
Harrison has put similar strategies into action and has noted considerable improvements in public safety in cities such as Denver, Eugene, and Houston.
While Mamdani has aligned with the controversial “police refund” movement in the past, he has recently adjusted his stance to appeal to a broader audience, particularly after his win in the Democratic primary.
Though some critics have seized upon Harrison’s support for Mamdani, branding him as soft on crime, others speculate that Harrison could be a candidate for NYPD commissioner should Mamdani succeed in the general election this November.
Suffolk resident Nick Graves suggested on social media that Harrison might have been offered a job, while others accused him of being an opportunist merely looking to lead the NYPD. However, a former top officer from Suffolk currently in private security rejected these claims, stating that he has no interest in becoming the NYPD commissioner.
Notably, Harrison made history as the first Black individual to serve as both NYPD detective chief and Suffolk police chief, while also championing his own reform initiatives in Long Island law enforcement.
During his two years at the helm of the Suffolk County Police Department, he rolled out a comprehensive 1,000-page reform plan, overseen body camera deployments, established a transparency hub, and enhanced community outreach efforts.
Moreover, his achievements include the formation of a task force aimed at apprehending the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer, Rex Human.
