New York City’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, made headlines on November 19, 2025, by announcing that NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch would remain in her role under his incoming administration. The decision, revealed after weeks of speculation, signals both an unexpected alliance and a bid for stability as the city’s police force faces mounting challenges and heightened scrutiny.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist who once advocated for defunding the police, praised Tisch’s two decades of service and her record of cracking down on corruption and driving down crime rates. In a statement shared with the press, he remarked, “I have admired her work cracking down on corruption in the upper echelons of the police department, driving down crime in New York City, and standing up for New Yorkers in the face of authoritarianism.” He added, “Together, we will deliver a city where rank-and-file police officers and the communities they serve alike are safe, represented, and proud to call New York their home.”
The confirmation of Tisch’s continuation comes at a pivotal moment for the NYPD. Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who appointed Tisch in 2024 after the resignation of Edward Caban amid a federal investigation, hailed the move as a sign of continuity in New York’s public safety strategy. “Mayor-elect Mamdani is recognizing our public-safety efforts were right and that they will continue into the future,” Adams said. “We all want a safer city, and keeping Commissioner Tisch in place and supporting our police officers every day with the policies we have implemented, is exactly how we do that.”
Jessica Tisch, for her part, expressed both humility and resolve in her own statement. “Leading this department is the greatest privilege of my life, and I am proud to continue doing it,” she wrote in an email to officers. She emphasized her alignment with Mamdani’s public safety goals, noting, “He and I share many of the same public safety goals for New York City: lowering crime, making communities safer, rooting out corruption, and giving our officers the tools, support, and resources they need to carry out their noble work.”
The partnership between Mamdani and Tisch is, by all accounts, an unlikely one. Mamdani’s political identity as a democratic socialist and his past calls to defund the police stand in sharp contrast to Tisch’s reputation as a data-driven, tough-on-crime executive and billionaire heiress known for her criticism of bail reform laws. Their differences on policing are well documented, yet their collaboration could provide the NYPD with much-needed continuity as it navigates pressing issues, from rising public safety demands to calls for reform.
One of the most notable policy shifts under the new administration will be the creation of a Department of Community Safety. Mamdani explained that this new entity would work alongside the NYPD to address persistent social challenges, including homelessness and mental health crises. He told reporters, “We share a commitment to delivering safety and justice in tandem and a recognition of the fact that we are currently asking police officers to do far more than simply police.” The plan includes diverting some 911 calls—particularly those involving mental health emergencies—to specialized teams, freeing up officers to focus on serious and violent crimes.
This approach has been met with cautious optimism by both police leadership and community advocates. The NYPD’s unions, which had initially expressed concerns about Mamdani’s victory, quickly rallied behind the decision to retain Tisch. Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, said, “We are very glad to hear that there will be stability and continuity in the NYPD’s leadership going forward. Commissioner Tisch understands all of the many challenges police officers face on the streets and has been working productively with us to address them. We look forward to continuing that work in the months ahead.”
Scott Munro, head of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, echoed these sentiments: “Commissioner Tisch will lead us through the challenges we will face. This is a great day for New York City detectives, the NYPD, and the citizens we are proud to serve.”
Outside the department, the announcement drew praise from the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, an independent nonprofit focused on public safety. Its president, Richard Aborn, lauded Tisch’s data-driven leadership style and her willingness to embrace new technologies. “I think this is very good for New York; she had already demonstrated her skill as police commissioner,” Aborn said, noting her commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence in policing.
Tisch’s track record provides plenty of evidence for these endorsements. Since taking the helm in 2024, she has presided over a 20% drop in the city’s murder rate and a record decline in shootings and other major crimes, according to data cited by Mamdani. Her career with the NYPD began in 2008 in the counterterrorism bureau and later saw her rise to deputy commissioner of information technology, where she spearheaded efforts to modernize police operations and improve transparency, including the rollout of body-worn cameras.
Still, the road ahead is far from smooth. The partnership between Mamdani and Tisch will be closely watched, especially as they attempt to balance public safety with demands for accountability and reform. Tisch’s critics have pointed to her opposition to bail reform and her privileged background, while Mamdani’s progressive base remains wary of any perceived retreat from promises to overhaul policing.
Yet both leaders seem intent on bridging their differences for the sake of the city. Tisch, in her statement, underscored the importance of collaboration: “That’s because he and I share many of the same public safety goals for New York City: lowering crime, making communities safer, rooting out corruption, and giving our officers the tools, support, and resources they need to carry out their noble work.” Mamdani, meanwhile, emphasized the need for the NYPD to adapt: “Ensuring police officers remain focused on serious and violent crime” will be a priority, alongside new efforts to address the root causes of disorder and vulnerability.
With Mamdani set to take office on January 1, 2026, all eyes are on this high-stakes partnership. As the city’s largest police force prepares for a new chapter, the blend of continuity and change embodied by Tisch’s reappointment may well set the tone for New York’s approach to public safety in the years ahead.
For now, the message from City Hall is one of cautious optimism, shared purpose, and an acknowledgment that the challenges facing New York demand both experience and innovation.
