New York City, under socialist Zohran Mamdani, reportedly faces a significant decline in public safety, with crime rates soaring and many NYPD officials departing, according to experts and veteran officers.
Critics of the Democrat mayoral candidate, particularly frontrunners in the upcoming November election, express skepticism about Mamdani’s claims regarding police funding. They believe his recent shifts in position may merely be strategic moves aimed at winning over undecided voters.
“For those residing here, this city won’t be safe at all,” predicted Scott Munroe, president of the NYPD Detective Fund Association.
“I often lie awake, anxious about the phone ringing. I just worry about the safety of our members. Planning a funeral is not something I want to do,” he shared.
“If someone like him takes charge, it’ll endanger our personnel, and who would want to work under those conditions? Recruitment might regress significantly,” Munroe emphasized.
Amid potential mass exits from the force, the NYPD leadership is quietly concerned, particularly if Democratic mayor and NYPD captain Mayor Adams opts to run as an independent or alongside GOP candidate Curtis Swa.
“A police source mentioned that Mamdani was asked point-blank what he would do if elected. It’s puzzling for New Yorkers to consider voting for him, as he seems disconnected from the needs of the police,” the source noted.
Many NYPD executives are contemplating retirement after nearly two decades, as sentiments among the city’s leadership appear to lean more towards supporting criminals than the officers themselves, a trend anticipated to worsen under Mamdani’s regime.
“This individual believes the entire NYPD is racially biased,” remarked a veteran officer. “Honestly, I think the department is more diverse now than ever. He seems unaware of the current state of policing.”
Mamdani recently won the Democratic mayoral primary, yet his platform doesn’t include hiring more police, a commitment made by most other candidates.
Rather, he proposes establishing a new community safety department that would operate independently of the police. This department would expand mental health teams available to respond to what he calls “violent interface programs” and 911 calls—particularly as violent incidents by individuals who are not homeless have increased in the subway system.
“He’s trying to morph the police force into a social work entity,” said Swa, founder of the Guardian Angels. “He essentially seeks to neuter the police.”
“Cops can’t effectively operate with strict humanitarian expectations. It’s not like we have social workers trained like Mahatma Gandhi walking around,” he added.
Under NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Mamdani has claimed enhancements in crime statistics, noting a 2% reduction in significant crimes like murder and robbery compared to last year, and an 8% drop since 2019.
Longtime NYPD detectives envision a future where the city devolves into a crime-ridden “Gotham” under Mamdani’s leadership.
Detectives also express concern over what they call Mamdani’s hypocritical stance on police protection while openly criticizing the NYPD.
“You expect police to guard you, yet you don’t want them protecting the people of New York City?” they questioned.
Former mayor Bill de Blasio, leaning to the left, believes Mamdani is being unjustly criticized as anti-NYPD during his campaign. He urges New Yorkers to reconsider the outlook on law enforcement under the young socialist.
“He genuinely wants to maintain city safety,” de Blasio stated. “As an elected official, he recognizes that public safety is crucial for any economic agenda.”
“Mamdani has the chance to appoint leaders aligned with his vision, focusing on mental health professionals instead of police officers. I believe many in law enforcement would agree with that direction,” the ex-mayor concluded.
Scott Munroe cautioned that if Mamdani assumes the mayorship, it could trigger a mass exodus of officers, stating, “No one will want to work under such a regime.”
Mamdani did not respond to inquiries regarding these issues.
Campaign consultant Hank Shenkop, who has extensive experience in democratic initiatives and law enforcement, expressed doubt over Mamdani’s pledges not to diminish police presence if he becomes mayor. “His supporters claim he’ll support the police, but I have my doubts. We cannot afford to lose even one officer; if he gets into office, we risk losing many.”
