Mamdani reportedly preparing plan to disband NYPD unit

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is reportedly preparing to announce a plan to disband the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group, a move he promised during his campaign. The proposal has drawn pressure from some supporters and raised questions about who would take over the unit’s responsibilities.

The SRG responds to protests, civil disturbances and major events, and also handles counterterrorism operations. Mamdani has said he wants those duties separated.

At a City Council budget hearing in March, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said her discussions with the mayor focused on how the city handles protests generally, rather than on disbanding the SRG.

The NYPD describes the unit as an important resource for events such as parades, demonstrations and the papal visit. Its officers may also be sent to locations where police presence is increased because of crime or other conditions, and can respond to incidents including shootings, bank robberies and missing-person cases.

Tisch said the SRG is not usually assigned to peaceful protests, but may be deployed when a demonstration involves criminal activity. In 2025, she said, the department supported 4,255 protests, with the SRG available at 245 of them—about 6%.

People familiar with the plan say City Hall has considered placing the unit under Mamdani’s new Office of Community Safety. The change could be formalized through an executive order.

At a press conference in September, Mamdani said he remained committed to disbanding the SRG. He said the unit was created more than a decade ago to address threats to the city, but now has responsibilities involving both counterterrorism and responses to people exercising their First Amendment rights.

Mamdani said he believes counterterrorism should be handled separately from protest response, adding that he was continuing to discuss the issue with Tisch.

A spokesperson for the mayor said the administration would disband the SRG and separate protest response from counterterrorism, with further details expected soon.