Mamdani's offer to retain Commissioner Tisch concerns some long-time proponents

Mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani wants Jessica Tisch to remain as NYPD Commissioner under his potential administration. He broadcast those intentions during the final debate last Wednesday, Oct. 22.

- By TANDY LAU

"Commissioner Tisch took on a broken status quo, started to deliver accountability, rooting out corruption and reducing crime across the five boroughs," said Mamdani. "I have said time and again that my litmus tests for that position will be excellence, and the alignment will be of that position, and I am confident that under a Mamdani administration, we will continue to deliver on that same mission.

"And do so while creating the Department of Community Safety to ensure that mental health experts were the ones responding to the mental health crisis, because safety and justice is at the cornerstone of our pursuit of public safety, and in doing so, we will also be able to deliver our agenda for affordability."

But nothing is set in stone. Mamdani will need to win first, of course. Not only that, but Tisch still needs to accept. Mamdani told CNN they had not spoken privately about the matter yet. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who he is facing in a post-primary rematch, is also reportedly keen on retaining her.

Less than a year ago, Mayor Eric Adams appointed Tisch following a revolving door of police commissioners throughout his administration. Her predecessor, Edward Caban, stepped down last September after a federal corruption probe, but not before burying numerous police disciplinary cases during his tenure. His interim replacement, Tom Donlon, is currently accusing the NYPD of running a “coordinated criminal conspiracy” in a lawsuit against Adams and the city.

The administration's first commissioner, Keechant Sewell, left after attempting to dock up to 10 vacation days from entrenched police chief Jeffrey Maddrey. The longtime Adams ally faced a substantiated misconduct complaint over interfering with the arrest of a retired colleague for allegedly chasing after teenagers with a loaded gun. He is also named in Donlon's lawsuit. Sewell, the first woman to lead the NYPD, now heads security and guest experience for the New York Mets.