Mamdani Will Keep Jessica Tisch as NYPD Commissioner, Emphasizing Stability and Reform

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday that he will retain Jessica Tisch as New York City’s police commissioner when he takes office on 1 January. The decision signals a preference for continuity in law enforcement leadership while the new administration outlines its public-safety priorities.

Mamdani — a self-described democratic socialist who has previously criticized policing practices — cited recent crime reductions as a key reason for keeping Tisch in place. He highlighted data showing the fewest shooting incidents and victims in the first 10 months of the year, a nearly 20% year-to-date decline in murders, the seizure of more than 4,800 illegal guns in 2025, and the four safest months for city transit in 15 years.

Tisch, who began her career in the NYPD counterterrorism bureau and has 18 years in public service, accepted the offer to remain commissioner and pledged to continue working toward shared goals with the incoming mayor. In an internal message to department staff, she acknowledged differences with Mamdani but stressed their common priorities: reducing crime, improving community safety, rooting out corruption, and supporting officers with the resources they need.

"I look forward to working with Commissioner Jessica Tisch to deliver genuine public safety in New York City," Mamdani said, praising Tisch for efforts to curb corruption and reduce violence. Tisch responded, "Thanks to the men and women of the NYPD, the strategies we deployed this year have delivered historic reductions in crime."

State leaders welcomed the announcement. Governor Kathy Hochul said Tisch has been a steady partner in lowering crime and improving public safety, and Attorney General Letitia James said she looked forward to continued collaboration under the mayor-elect's administration.

During the campaign and his time as a Queens assemblyman, Mamdani at times called for major changes to policing — even using the term "defund" in earlier remarks and describing the institution as corrupt. On the trail he softened that stance, saying he is not running to defund the police and emphasizing that his views have evolved.

As Mamdani prepares to assume office as New York’s first Muslim mayor and one of its youngest, his transition team has drawn strong interest: the campaign said it received more than 50,000 résumés for city hall roles as he seeks to usher in a new era focused on putting people first. Keeping Tisch signals the incoming administration’s intent to balance reform ambitions with leadership continuity at the NYPD.

Why this matters

The move reassures rank-and-file officers and many city residents who prioritize public safety, while also setting the stage for negotiated reforms between a mayor with a reformist background and an established police leadership. The arrangement will test whether Mamdani can pair change-minded goals with operational stability at one of the nation’s largest police departments.