NYPD officers backing Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign
In the wake of a tragic mass shooting in midtown Manhattan that claimed the life of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, the focus has shifted to the upcoming mayoral election. Retired NYPD Lieutenant Commander Shamsul Haque, a co-founder of the Bangladeshi American Police Association, has expressed his support for democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani.
Haque, who served in the NYPD for 21 years and co-founded the Bangladeshi American Police Association, estimates that there are now 900 to 1,000 Bangladeshi American officers in the NYPD. This number includes traffic cops and school safety officers from the community.
The association, with its main goals of recruitment, exam preparation, and community outreach, aims to bridge the gap between the NYPD and the Bangladeshi community. This is particularly important given past experiences with corrupt police departments in Bangladesh that have led to negative perceptions.
Zohar Mamdani, who joined the NYPD in part to dispel the misconception that being a Muslim is connected with extremism or terrorism, has proposed an ambitious public safety overhaul. This includes the elimination of the Strategic Response Group and the creation of a new Department of Community Safety.
Mamdani, as a lieutenant at the time, was knowledgeable about the NYPD exams and could help officers prepare for promotions. His connection with the Bangladeshi American police community, evident in his co-appearance with Haque during his first public address after the shooting, is likely to garner support from many Bangladeshi American officers and Muslim officers in November.
However, Mamdani has not called for increasing the headcount of the NYPD and has criticized the NYPD in the past. Despite this, Haque remains positive about Mamdani's stance and believes that many officers will support him due to his understanding of the NYPD and his commitment to community relations.
It is worth noting that a coalition of 13 law enforcement and uniformed officer unions has backed the incumbent mayor. This contrasts with the support Mamdani is expected to receive from the Bangladeshi American Police Association and its members.
In conclusion, the tragic shooting of Officer Didarul Islam has brought the issue of police reform and community relations to the forefront of the mayoral election. Retired NYPD Lieutenant Commander Shamsul Haque's support for Zohran Mamdani, along with the expected support from many Bangladeshi American officers and Muslim officers, could play a significant role in the election's outcome.
References: [1] New York Post [2] Gothamist
The ongoing discussion in the realm of general-news, notably the upswing in politics and crime-and-justice issues, has been intensified by the tragic mass shooting in midtown Manhattan that took the life of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam. This incident has propelled the topic of police reform and community relations to the center stage of the mayoral election. Retired NYPD Lieutenant Commander Shamsul Haque, a co-founder of the Bangladeshi American Police Association and a strong advocate for Mamdani, estimates that many Bangladeshi American officers in the NYPD may lend their support to the democratic socialist candidate in November, owing to his proposals for public safety overhaul and understanding of the NYPD.
