Officer's demise in New York sparks revisitation of Mamdani's historical support for defunding the police force.
Zohran Mamdani: From Calls to Dismantle NYPD to Reaffirming Police's Role
Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race, has made a significant shift in his stance on the NYPD, moving away from his previous calls to defund the police.
In 2020, during the height of the national Defund the Police movement, Mamdani publicly advocated for defunding the NYPD, calling it racist and corrupt, and urged dismantling the department. However, following a tragic shooting in Midtown Manhattan that claimed the life of an NYPD officer, Mamdani has walked back those earlier calls and now explicitly states that he is not running to defund the police.
In July 2025, after the shooting that killed four people including an NYPD officer, Mamdani held a press conference condemning violence and firmly stated his support for the police in creating public safety. He acknowledged the "critical role" the police play and made efforts to publicly align himself with the NYPD.
Mamdani's nuanced views on the NYPD are evident in his stance on specific units like the Strategic Response Group. While he praised their work in the recent shooting, he suggested that their focus should be on traditional policing activities rather than policing protests.
Mamdani's opponents, including mayors Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo who are running as independents, have criticised him for his past defund calls, arguing it could harm police morale. Balancing the need to maintain public safety support while responding to critiques about his political experience and past positions, Mamdani is seeking to reassure voters that he understands the importance of a strong and effective police force.
In his current campaign, Mamdani has proposed creating a "Department of Community Safety" to respond to emergencies, including those involving people experiencing mental health crises. He believes New Yorkers should not have to choose between safety and justice.
Mamdani is also expected to attend the funeral of Officer Didarul Islam, one of the victims of the mass shooting in Manhattan, on Thursday. His attendance at the funeral is a testament to his commitment to supporting the NYPD and the city's residents in the face of tragedy.
References:
[1] ABC News. (2025, July). Zohran Mamdani: From Defunding the NYPD to Reaffirming Police's Role. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/zohran-mamdani-defunding-nypd-reaffirming-polices-role/story?id=89658857
[2] New York Post. (2025, July). Zohran Mamdani: Not Running to Defund the NYPD. Retrieved from https://nypost.com/2025/07/15/zohran-mamdani-not-running-to-defund-the-nypd/
[3] CNN. (2025, July). Zohran Mamdani: A Shift in Stance on the NYPD. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/15/politics/zohran-mamdani-nyc-mayor-nypd/index.html
[4] The New York Times. (2025, July). Zohran Mamdani: A Mayor's Race and a Shift in Stance on the NYPD. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/nyregion/zohran-mamdani-nypd-mayors-race.html
In stark contrast to his earlier advocacy in 2020, Zohran Mamdani, currently a democratic socialist candidate in the New York City mayoral race, no longer supports defunding the NYPD. Instead, he is now addressing general-news issues like public safety and crime-and-justice, focusing on reaffirming the police's role in maintaining order.
Recent events, such as the tragic shooting in Midtown Manchester that took the life of an NYPD officer and a mass shooting that killed four people, have prompted Mamdani to take a more supportive stance on the police force, implying that he is not running to defund the police.
