Zohran Mamdani said during Wednesday’s mayoral debate that he would keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch if elected, confirming reporting from the New York Times earlier in the day.

The decision puts Mamdani at odds with some progressive allies who expected him to chart a more radical break from the Eric Adams administration. Tisch has led the department since late 2024, when Adams appointed her following a stretch of leadership turmoil at the NYPD that included two of her predecessors stepping down.

"Commissioner Tisch took on a broken status quo, started to deliver accountability, rooting out corruption and reducing crime across the five boroughs," Mamdani said during the debate.

Advocates for police reform reacted swiftly. Alex Vitale, a Brooklyn College professor and advisor to

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