Zohran Mamdani distances himself from 'defund the police' stance after NYPD officer's death in shooting

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York City's mayoral contenderZohran Mamdani, on Wednesday, July 30, backed down from his unpopular "defund the police" stance after a mass shooting that left five dead, including an NYPD officer.

The mass shooting on Monday, July 28, in a Park Avenue high-rise by a 27-year-old gunman, Shane Tamura, killed NYPD officer Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old father of two, and three civilians before turning his assault rifle on himself.

Zohran Mamdani says he is 'not running to defund the police'

Zohran Mamdani said during a highly-anticipated news conference, "I am not running to defund the police," hours after he visited Didarul Islam’s grieving relatives.

He went straight from the airport to the NYPD officer’s family home in the Bronx after returning from a trip to Uganda.

Interestingly, Mamdani had said in June that he wouldn’t defund the police if elected.

However, he drew outright skepticism from many cops as politicos said that it made sense for him to bow to the reality that defunding the police is an unpopular position.

A police source said, according to the New York Post, "People are fools to believe he will help the city. A wolf in sheep’s clothing."

Meanwhile, Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, said that the move away from "defund" was a necessary step for Mamdani.

Miringoff told the outlet, "He didn’t want ‘defund the police’ to define his candidacy. It’s a necessary move for him."

Following the mass shooting, NYC Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo commented on the shooting, as did Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.

Moreover, Mayor Adams also met with Islam’s family at the hospital later, and he and Governor Kathy Hochul attended a "roll call" in Islam’s honor at the 47th Precinct.

Meanwhile, Mamdani offered a tweet 45 minutes after his rivals, and referred to the "NYPD officer in critical condition" despite Islam being reported dead.

He followed up the next morning with a heartfelt tribute to Islam and his immigrant background as a Bangladeshi police officer.

However, by then, critics were slamming his lack of experience, past "defund" stance, and his call to disband the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group.

Didarul Islam was an immigrant father expecting his 3rd child

NYPD officer Didarul Islam, who lost his life during the mass shooting in New York City, was hailed as a hero, a mentor, and a family man with a third child on the way.

The 36-year-old was working an off-duty security shift at the 345 Park Avenue tower when Shane Tamura barged into the lobby and opened fire.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica S Tisch said that Islam, an immigrant from Bangladesh who had served at the 47th Precinct in the Bronx for three and a half years, was fatally shot by the 27-year-old gunman.

Tisch said at a late-night news conference, "He was doing the job that we asked him to do. He put himself in harm’s way, he made the ultimate sacrifice — shot in cold blood, wearing a uniform that stood for the promise that he made to this city. He died as he lived, a hero."

The officer’s death sent shockwaves through law enforcement agencies across the Country.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) also joined New York’s finest in offering condolences.

The NYPD posted on X, "Police Officer Didarul Islam represented the very best of our department. He was protecting New Yorkers from danger when his life was tragically cut short today. We join in prayer during this time of incomprehensible pain. We will forever honor his legacy."