Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who recently achieved a surprising victory in New York City’s Democratic primary, is facing intense scrutiny over his past statements on policing. His earlier calls to defund and dismantle the New York Police Department have resurfaced, drawing criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. In 2020, during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd’s death, Mamdani labeled the NYPD as “wicked and corrupt,” advocating for its defunding. His tweets from that period linked police abolition to broader social justice goals, including LGBTQ+ liberation.

As Mamdani now campaigns for mayor, he has moderated his stance on public safety. During a recent mayoral debate, he emphasized the necessity of working with the police to address violent crime, acknowledging their critical role in ensuring public safety. He highlighted that 65% of crimes from the first quarter of this year remain unsolved and advocated for a balanced approach involving mental health professionals and social workers to tackle issues like mental health crises and homelessness.

Mamdani’s current platform proposes the establishment of a Department of Community Safety to manage non-violent incidents, aiming to address the root causes of crime. He plans to reallocate $600 million from existing programs and increase taxes on wealthy residents to fund this initiative. Additionally, he has suggested reducing police overtime and cutting the NYPD’s $80 million communications budget.

Despite these changes, Fraternal Order of Police National Vice President Joe Gamaldi criticized Mamdani’s approach as political posturing, arguing that his policies could harm lower-income communities most affected by police defunding. Mamdani’s campaign, supported by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and driven by grassroots enthusiasm, has positioned him as a frontrunner in the mayoral race. If elected, he would become New York City’s youngest mayor in over a century.