New York City’s mayoral race has heated up, with Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani facing sharp criticism from crime expert Rafael A. Mangual over his policing policies. Mamdani, a self-described socialist, has proposed a “Department of Community Safety” to reduce the workload of the New York Police Department (NYPD) by redirecting certain responsibilities, like mental health crisis calls, to social workers and other non-police professionals. However, Mangual, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, argues that Mamdani’s approach misrepresents the root causes of the NYPD’s staffing issues and could undermine public safety.
Background on NYPD Staffing Challenges
The NYPD currently has about 33,000 officers, a significant drop from the 41,000 it had at the turn of the century, according to Mangual in an interview with Fox News Digital. This reduction comes at a time when the department is handling more 911 calls and has taken on additional responsibilities, such as counter-terrorism efforts, in the post-9/11 era. Mamdani has pointed to “forced overtime” as a key reason officers are leaving the force, citing the 200,000 annual emergency calls related to mental health crises as an example of duties that overburden police.
Mamdani’s Proposal and Mangual’s Critique
Mamdani’s campaign argues that redirecting non-violent calls, like mental health crises, to professionals such as “transit ambassadors” would allow police to focus on serious crimes, which he claims is what officers signed up for. He referenced a news article titled “Bleeding blue: Why is the NYPD losing an average of 300 cops per month?” to support his plan. However, Mangual disputes this, stating, “It does NOT say cops are unhappy because the scope of their duties is too large.” Instead, he argues the staffing shortage is the primary issue, and hiring 7,000 more officers would better address the problem than shrinking the NYPD’s responsibilities.
Mangual calls Mamdani’s proposal a “depolicing initiative masquerading as compassionate relief.” He suggests that Mamdani’s reluctance to increase police staffing stems from his past support for defunding the NYPD, despite Mamdani’s recent shift away from that stance. Following a tragic mass shooting in July 2025, where an NYPD officer was among the victims, Mamdani clarified, “I am not running to defund the police,” emphasizing a focus on public safety and incremental changes, such as using mental health professionals for crisis calls.
Broader Implications and Debate
Mangual also challenges Mamdani’s claim that gun violence and other crimes stem from failures in the social safety net, calling it a flawed assumption that ignores social science evidence. He argues that reducing police involvement in “small stuff” like traffic enforcement could hinder their ability to address serious crimes, noting that 42% of NYPD gun arrests in 2020 began as traffic stops. Mangual warns that Mamdani’s policies could make the NYPD, already at “skeleton crew status,” less appealing to potential recruits, further straining its resources.
Mamdani, speaking at a canvass launch event in Prospect Park on August 17, 2025, reiterated his commitment to public safety, stating that his decisions would prioritize listening to officers and empowering them to tackle serious crime. However, critics like former Governor Andrew Cuomo have accused Mamdani of holding views disconnected from the realities of policing, pointing to his past rhetoric as part of the “defund the police” movement.
Conclusion
As the mayoral race continues, Mamdani’s policing platform remains a flashpoint. While he advocates for a public health approach to safety, critics like Mangual argue that his policies misunderstand the complexities of policing and could weaken the NYPD’s effectiveness. With public safety a central issue in the election, New Yorkers will need to weigh these competing visions for the city’s future.