A significant exodus of nearly 250 police officers hit the New York City Police Department in the weeks leading up to Zohran Mamdani's historic mayoral victory. This occurred even as the democratic socialist candidate attempted to soften his previously strong anti-police rhetoric.
A Surge in Departures and Union Concerns
Data from the Police Pension Fund reveals that 245 officers resigned in October alone. This figure marks a sharp 35 percent increase compared to the 181 officers who left during the same period last year. Police unions have directly linked this trend to anxieties surrounding the new mayor-elect.
Scott Munro, president of the Detectives Endowment Association, stated that "morale is down because everyone is concerned about the policies Mamdani wants to put in place." He expressed a sentiment echoed by other union leaders, adding, "You have a person who is supposed to be running New York City that does not believe in law enforcement."
The Police Benevolent Association (PBA), which is preparing for contract negotiations with the new administration, warned the situation could deteriorate further. PBA President Patrick Hendry highlighted that every single month, the department loses enough cops to staff an entire precinct. He cited unsustainable workloads, an expired contract, and a perceived lack of support as the primary reasons officers are choosing to leave.
Record Recruitment Amidst the Turmoil
In response to the resignations, the NYPD emphasised its intensive recruitment efforts. A spokesperson told the Daily Mail, "We are laser-focused on addressing our recruitment efforts and bringing in the next generation of officers."
The department's data supports this claim. In a significant counterbalance to the departures, 1,093 new officers were hired last month, forming the largest Police Academy class since January 2016. So far this year, the NYPD has brought on 2,911 recruits and is on track for the largest annual hiring in its history. Over the past four years, nearly 10,000 new officers have joined the force.
This aggressive hiring has allowed the NYPD to largely maintain its staffing levels. The department's current uniformed headcount stands at 33,745, only a slight decrease from 33,812 in 2024. However, this is still significantly lower than its peak of 40,285 officers in the year 2000.
Mamdani's Rhetoric and Proposed Reforms
The context of the resignations is deeply intertwined with Zohran Mamdani's political history. At 34, he became the youngest mayor in New York City history after a campaign focused on affordability that successfully energised younger voters.
Despite his recent efforts to moderate his position—including an apology for past remarks labelling the NYPD 'racist and anti-queer'—his earlier statements continue to cause concern within the ranks. Social media posts from 2020 show him repeatedly advocating to defund the police during the Black Lives Matter protests. He referred to the NYPD as a 'rogue agency' and a 'major threat to public safety.'
During the campaign, Mamdani rejected claims that he was anti-police and explicitly stated he had no plans to defund the NYPD. He expressed interest in retaining Commissioner Sewell and proposed investing in social and mental health services to bolster public safety. However, one of his key reform proposals—transferring final disciplinary authority from the police commissioner to the Civilian Complaint Review Board—has sparked further debate and anxiety among officers.
Among the high-profile departures was Deputy Chief John D'Adamo, head of the Strategic Response Group, a unit Mamdani has previously criticised and suggested could be disbanded. D'Adamo resigned the day after the election, though a friend stated his decision was unrelated to the political shift and that he was simply ready to retire.
