NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch will remain New York City’s top cop under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a move aimed at easing concerns from business leaders and moderate Democrats about the incoming progressive administration.

Tisch, 44, accepted Mamdani’s offer following weeks of speculation and behind-the-scenes lobbying from political and business power brokers. The decision fulfills Mamdani’s campaign pledge to retain the widely respected police leader as he prepares to take office in January.

The arrangement brings together two Democrats with starkly different public safety philosophies. Mamdani, a democratic socialist and vocal critic of past NYPD practices, has faced fire over prior remarks calling the department “racist” and expressing support for slashing police responsibilities. Tisch, meanwhile, has championed a tougher approach and has publicly criticized the state’s criminal justice reforms for contributing to a “revolving door” of reoffending.

Despite those tensions, Mamdani framed the decision as a unifying step.

“I have admired her work cracking down on corruption in the upper echelons of the police department, driving down crime in New York City, and standing up for New Yorkers in the face of authoritarianism,” Mamdani said, praising record-low shootings under her tenure. “Together, we will deliver a city where rank-and-file police officers and the communities they serve alike are safe, represented, and proud to call New York their home.”

Tisch said she agreed to stay after multiple discussions with the mayor-elect about shared objectives, including focusing officers on violent crime and rooting out misconduct. “He and I share many of the same public safety goals,” Tisch said. “Lowering crime, making communities safer, rooting out corruption, and giving our officers the tools, support, and resources they need to carry out their noble work.”

Under the incoming administration, both officials are expected to pursue a division of responsibilities that shifts some duties away from the NYPD. Mamdani plans to create a new Department of Community Safety to respond to homelessness and mental health incidents — functions currently handled by police.

The commissioner’s continued presence reassures establishment Democrats who rallied behind Mamdani late in the race, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The private sector — including Tisch’s billionaire family — also pressed for her to remain as a stabilizing force against sweeping reforms.

The partnership may still face friction ahead. Tisch backed former Mayor Eric Adams’ proposal to expand the NYPD to 40,000 officers. Mamdani has argued the force should remain at its current 35,000 budgeted positions while eliminating overtime and shifting some crisis response responsibilities to social services.

Their differences extend beyond policy. Tisch, a member of a prominent New York Jewish philanthropic family, is a staunch Zionist. Mamdani’s outspoken criticism of Israel and pledge to order the arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city helped fuel support from voters angered by the war in Gaza, while drawing sharp backlash from segments of the city’s Jewish community.

Whether their alliance proves durable remains to be seen. But for now, the commissioner’s decision represents a significant political victory for Mamdani — one that could help define how far he pushes his progressive agenda once he enters City Hall.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)