New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced on Wednesday that she will stay on in her position after the newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, takes office. However, she admitted that they do not see eye to eye on several issues.
Mamdani and Tisch released a joint statement on November 19, emphasizing their shared core focus on “reducing crime, fighting corruption, and supporting officers.” Nevertheless, in a letter to the police department, Tisch candidly stated that she and the incoming mayor have differences in certain policy perspectives.
“I am choosing to stay because of all of you,” Tisch wrote. “Are the mayor-elect and I aligned on everything? No, we are not.”
She added that she appreciates Mamdani’s willingness to build a diverse governing team – “a team that can debate the merits of various ideas and policies.”
Following the statement, New York Governor Hochul and current Mayor Adams also expressed support for Tisch to continue in her role, maintaining the right security policies.
Analysts point out that Tisch and Mamdani disagree on issues such as bail reform, police deployment during group protests, internal disciplinary procedures, and enforcement of low-level offenses.
In the final mayoral debate before the election, Mamdani publicly expressed his desire for Tisch to stay on, garnering support from the law enforcement community and moderate Democrats but also raising questions from his progressive supporters.
Experts highlight Tisch’s major achievement in “overhauling corruption at the top levels of the police department” which worsened during Adams’ tenure, even leading to multiple federal investigations.
Since her appointment by Adams in November 2024, Tisch has been outspoken in criticizing bail reform and attributing the rise in crime during the pandemic to related justice reform bills.
She also pushed for expanding “quality-of-life enforcement” during Adams’ term, such as cracking down on noise, outdoor drug use, and illegal parking, among other minor infractions.
However, several criminal justice reform advocacy groups have raised concerns about this enforcement direction.
Jennvine Wong, a staff attorney at the legal aid organization Legal Aid Society, stated that in this era of immense life pressures, pushing more people into the criminal justice system is not an effective way to protect New Yorkers.
In a joint statement, Mamdani and Tisch noted that the incoming mayor’s proposal for a “Department of Community Safety” – which will involve mental health professionals in handling cases related to mental illness – will work closely with the NYPD, while the NYPD will still focus on addressing violent crime.
Patrick Hendry, the chairman of the New York City Police Benevolent Association (PBA), welcomed Tisch’s continuation, stating that “the stability of the NYPD leadership is crucial for officers.”