Hundreds of NYPD cops quit ahead of Zohran Mamdani’s term amid fears of anti-police policies

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The NYPD’s blue line is looking mighty thin these days, and it’s not just because of budget cuts.

In the weeks leading up to socialist Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral victory, hundreds of cops decided to hang up their badges. Insiders told the New York Post that the worst may be yet to come.

Exodus before Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s term

It’s been a mass walkout that likely has City Hall sweating. The NYPD saw a 35% spike in resignations and retirements this October, with 245 cops leaving compared to 181 during the same month last year, according to Police Pension Fund data.

“Morale is down because everyone is concerned about the policies Mamdani wants to put in place,” said Detectives Endowment Association President Scott Munro, who has spent more than 30 years in uniform. “You have a person who is supposed to be running New York City that does not believe in law enforcement. What’s coming out of everyone’s mouth is, ‘We’re in trouble.’” 

That grim outlook could worsen depending on Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s next move.

A police union source told the Post that whether more officers leave in the coming months will depend on what she does. “If she leaves, it may result in an uptick. If she stays, maybe not,” they said.

NYPD losing enough officers to staff an entire precinct, warns Patrick Hendry

The Police Benevolent Association isn’t taking the situation lightly. The city’s largest police union has warned that the number of officers walking away could soon reach crisis levels.

“Every single month, we’re losing enough cops to staff an entire precinct,” said PBA President Patrick Hendry. “It will certainly get worse if our city leaders don’t work with us to fix our unsustainable workload, our expired contract, and the constant second-guessing that is driving good cops away from the job.” 

The NYPD has been scrambling to fill the gaps. So far, 2,911 new cops have been hired this year—the highest number since 2006—and another class is expected to join in December, according to a department spokeswoman.

The current uniformed headcount stands at 33,745, slightly down from last year’s 33,812. But that’s still far from the department’s 2000 peak of 40,285, per the city’s Independent Budget Office.

Deputy Chief John D’Adamo resigns amid Mamdani transition

One of the biggest departures post-election came from Deputy Chief John D’Adamo, who headed the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG)—the unit that handles protests and mass demonstrations. Mamdani has openly vowed to dismantle the SRG.

SRG officers famously managed the anti-Israel protests at Columbia University last year, where hundreds of agitators were arrested. The political left, however, portrayed the SRG as the villain rather than the protesters who “spewed hate and encouraged chaos at the Ivy,” according to the Post.

D’Adamo submitted his papers on Wednesday, just a day after Mamdani’s win. A friend said his retirement was coincidental, adding that “the move had nothing to do with the mayor-elect.”

Still, many within the force fear the fallout could cripple investigations if Mamdani follows through on his plan to disband the SRG. “If they get rid of SRG, they’re going to put detectives on protests,” Munro warned. “That’ll take them away from solving crimes and lead to more CCRB complaints.”

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s Department of Community Safety plan sparks backlash

Morale sank further after Election Day, following Mamdani’s proposal for a new Department of Community Safety—a plan to send mental health professionals to 911 calls involving people in crisis instead of police. “How’s that going to work when the person pulls out a gun or a knife?” a Bronx officer asked.

Mamdani’s other ideas have also alienated the rank and file. The mayor-elect has said he wants to transfer final disciplinary authority from the police commissioner to the Civilian Complaint Review Board. “Anyone who has ever sat in on a CCRB hearing knows it’s a kangaroo court,” a recently retired officer said.

Adding to the tension are Mamdani’s past comments labeling NYPD officers as “racist” and “homophobic.” Though he later apologized, many say the damage is done.

“How do you work for somebody who considers you racist and anti-queer and wants to defund the police?” the retired cop asked. “Things are hard enough already. If you’re eligible to leave, why would you want to stay in that situation?”

A police union consultant added that recruiting under Mamdani’s leadership will be like “trying to sell umbrellas in the desert.” They said, “Nobody wants to be a New York City cop—it’s not worth the money, the stress, or the danger, especially working for a mayor who wants to dismantle the department.”

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