Jessica Tisch will continue as NYPD commissioner under new leadership of Mamdani.

In a significant development for the New York Police Department (NYPD), Commissioner Jessica Tisch has accepted an offer from Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to continue her role as the city’s top law enforcement officer. This decision comes despite divergent views on approaches to public safety that have emerged between the two.

In an email dispatched to NYPD officers on Wednesday, Tisch outlined the nature of her discussions with Mamdani, who is set to officially take office on January 1. While acknowledging their differing perspectives, she emphasized their shared commitment to essential priorities such as maintaining public safety, reducing crime rates, and ensuring stability within the department. Tisch conveyed her readiness to advocate for both the police force and the community, stating that open debate on policies will be integral to their collaboration.

Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has made several pledges that raise questions about the future direction of the NYPD. He aims to maintain the department’s staffing levels, eliminate its controversial Strategic Response Group, and dismantle the current gang database. Tisch has expressed skepticism regarding these initiatives. Additionally, Mamdani plans to create a new agency called the Department of Community Safety, with a proposed budget of billion, tasked with managing responsibilities often handled by police officers, such as responding to mental health emergencies. Tisch has yet to publicly address her stance on this proposal.

Mamdani’s past remarks, calling for the defunding and dismantling of the NYPD in 2020, have sparked criticism from some quarters. Though he has since apologized for those comments and reiterated his commitment to maintaining existing funding levels for the police, these issues linger as potential points of contention.

The decision for Tisch to remain in her position follows her swearing-in as the city’s 48th police commissioner less than a year ago. Throughout her tenure, she has been credited with leading the NYPD during a period of declining crime rates, with recent data indicating a significant reduction in violence and the lowest number of shootings since the inception of the CompStat system in 1994. Her strategic approach to policing has received accolades for effectively deploying resources to areas most affected by crime.

Tisch’s appointment as police commissioner was made by Mayor Eric Adams, who has endorsed her performance since their initial collaboration. During her career, Tisch has accumulated extensive experience within the NYPD, previously serving as a counterterrorism analyst and later in senior IT roles.

As the transition approaches, the future relationship between Tisch and Mamdani will be closely monitored, as the two navigate their differing ideologies in pursuit of shared public safety goals.