Former New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly recently warned that if Zohran Mamdani, the leading candidate for Queens State Assembly and New York City mayor, is elected, the New York Police Department (NYPD) may face a “mass exodus,” adding further instability to the already strained public safety system.
In an interview on WABC radio show “The Cats Roundtable” last Sunday (October 12th), Kelly expressed concerns about Mamdani’s potential win, despite Mamdani’s recent attempts to present a more moderate image to the public. Kelly stated, “Police officers will not be fooled by this demeanor.” He further emphasized Mamdani’s problematic nature, citing his anti-Semitic tendencies, extreme views, and perception of police officers as targets. Kelly pointed out that since the current mayor, Eric Adams, took office, there has already been a significant number of officers resigning, and if the “socialist mayor” Mamdani comes into power, the loss of police force may worsen.
Following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, Mamdani publicly criticized the New York police for “racial discrimination” and “threatening public safety,” sparking strong controversy and backlash from the police community. Despite calls for him to apologize, Mamdani responded vaguely without a clear clarification.
Regarding the future leadership of the police department, Kelly praised the current commissioner, Jessica Tisch, for her outstanding performance and suggested that if Mamdani is elected, she should be allowed to stay in her position. “She is doing a great job, but no one knows if she can maintain a good working relationship with a socialist, Muslim mayor,” Kelly said.
Last week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul also publicly stated that she has “strongly advised” Mamdani to retain Tisch, indicating that the state government is equally concerned about the stability of the police department’s top leadership.
Political observers point out that the tension between Mamdani and the police force may become a central focus of the election. With the election approaching, how to balance police reform with maintaining public safety will be the biggest challenge for this progressive candidate to face.