New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday ordered the NYPD to conduct its first use-of-force review in a decade – and added $2.6 million in funding to boost police oversight efforts.
Hizzoner’s directive to the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD — described as an independent arm of the city Department of Investigation headed by a Mamdani appointee — comes after an officer involved in the fatal shooting of mentally ill Queens teen Win Rosario was allowed to retire last week before facing a disciplinary trial.
“When the government uses force against a New Yorker, the standard for accountability must be at its highest,” Mamdani said in a statement Monday. “Every New Yorker deserves to know that force will be used lawfully, carefully and only when necessary.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday orders the NYPD to conduct its first use-of-force review in a decade. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post
NYPD body-camera footage shows officers fatally shooting Win Rozario, a mentally ill Queens man who lunged at them with scissors as his mother and brother begged them not to shoot. New York State Attorney General
“We have an obligation to Win’s family and to every New Yorker who calls for help in a moment of crisis.”
Rozario, 19, was killed in March 2024 by police who responded to a 911 call from his home in Ozone Park.
He was shot dead when he lunged at cops with scissors, despite his mom and brother begging them not to fire, according to disturbing body camera footage.
Police had fired their Tasers at him twice to try to bring him down first, but Rozario charged at them, the footage shows.
Activists and other members of the Bangladeshi community demonstrate in March 20 after the death of Rosario, who was Bangladeshi. Getty Images
Two cops, Matthew Cianfrocco and Salvatore Alongi, fired their weapons at Rozario, who later died at the hospital.
In December, New York Attorney General Letitia James decided not to press criminal charges against the officers, although they were still subject to an internal review by the department.
Then Thursday, Alongi was allowed to retire before his disciplinary trial, outraging Rozario’s family.
A group protesting police brutality hold a vigil for the teen. Anadolu via Getty Images
Mandani said Monday of the new examination into police use-of-force, “This review is about making sure our policies reflect that responsibility, that our officers have the guidance and training they need and that New Yorkers and their families can trust their city will treat them with care and dignity.”
The move drew immediate scathing pushback from one of the Big Apple’s major police unions.
“Mayor Mamdani would rather empower and fund agencies like the biased, anti-police [Civilian Complaint Review Board] and defend and dismantle vital units across the NYPD instead of being a leader who supports the men and women who keep our city safe,” seethed Scott Munro, head of the Detectives Endowment Association, on X.
“New Yorkers should be worried,” Munro said.
“We have an obligation to Win’s family and to every New Yorker who calls for help in a moment of crisis,” Mamdani said. Getty Images
“You cannot weaken morale, drive experienced detectives out, and discourage new recruits while expecting public safety to improve. The mayor should be supporting detectives, not advancing policies that treat them as the problem and make it harder for them to do their jobs.”
A law-enforcement source added to The Post, “I don’t think you will find many people who are against genuine accountability and transparency.
“Any reforms or review done is only for the mayor to save face after a tumultuous week,” said the source, days after Mamdani took heat for such things as attending a vigil for victims of the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel.
Mamdani announced Monday that his administration would increase funding for the OIG for the NYPD by $2.6 million to boost oversight efforts.
The additional funding will triple the office’s current headcount.
It has had nearly 40 staffers in the past but was whittled to just three last year, prompting criticism from city watchdogs.
The OIG-NYPD is an independent office that provides oversight of the NYPD and examines its operations and policies.
It is currently headed by Christina Soto, who was appointed to the post by DOI Commissioner Nadia Shihata, a Mamdani appointee.
Shihata donated $700 to Mamdani’s campaign across four donations ahead of the Democratic primary in 2025, records show.
She was an early supporter of the current mayor, shelling out the majority of the donations, which were worth much more with public matching, while the young socialist was polling in the low single digits.
-Additional reporting by Joe Marino and Craig McCarthy