NYC Mayor Mamdani Refuses to Fire NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch Amid Socialist Backlash

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated on Tuesday that he has no plans to fire NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, resisting direct pressure from his democratic socialist allies following a fatal federal immigration enforcement shooting in the Bronx.

Mamdani Rejects Socialist Demands to Remove Tisch

The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America demanded Tisch’s removal and urged the mayor to drive federal immigration enforcement out of the city following the shooting of Oscar Belgal. Belgal, a 28-year-old Dominican national, was shot and killed during a targeted operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the shooting occurred after Belgal allegedly refused to comply with officers’ orders during the federal operation. Ahead of a ceremony honoring fallen NYPD officers, Mamdani addressed reporters regarding the future of his police commissioner.

Jessica Tisch is the police commissioner. I have no plans to change that, Mamdani told reporters.

He credited Tisch with uprooting corruption from upper echelons of the police department while helping drive down overall crime rates across the five boroughs.

And over the last 10 months that we’ve worked together, we have delivered the lowest recorded number of murders in our city’s history, the lowest recorded number of shootings as well as shooting victims, Mamdani said.

Detectives Support Commissioner as Mayor Reviews Use-Of-Force Policies

Scott Munro, president of the Detectives’ Endowment Association representing active and retired detectives, voiced support for the commissioner when questioned about the push from socialist organizers. Munro noted that crime statistics were dropping and asserted that Tisch was simply doing her job.

Following the Bronx operation, a City Hall spokesperson confirmed that the mayor was reviewing the circumstances surrounding Belgal’s death. Mamdani subsequently directed the police department to conduct a comprehensive review of its use-of-force policies and announced separate administrative reforms designed to strengthen accountability when officers face accusations of serious misconduct.

Honoring Fallen Officers at the Police Memorial

The political friction played out against the backdrop of a solemn memorial service. Mamdani and Tisch appeared together at the New York City Police Memorial to honor 42 fallen department members.

The roster of honored officers included 41 individuals who died from illnesses related to the September 11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath, alongside Detective First Grade Didarul Islam, who was killed in a Midtown Manhattan mass shooting in 2025.

While we cannot feel the silence they left behind, we will refuse to let their memory fade, Mamdani said during the tribute to the fallen personnel and their surviving families.