Self-described democratic socialist and New York mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani said police should not be sent to respond to calls for help involving domestic violence.
The Washington Free Beacon reported on Mamdani's proclamation on a 2020 podcast when he said police officers represented an inappropriate response to domestic violence calls for help. The Beacon reported that in 2024, New York police responded to more than 100,000 calls for help where domestic violence was involved.
The Beacon quoted Mamdani from its transcript of the "Immigrantly" podcast as saying, "If somebody is jaywalking, if somebody is surviving, going through domestic violence — there are so many different, different situations that would be far better handled by people trained to deal with those specific situations, as opposed to an individual with a gun."
Mamdani's campaign site indicates his approach to violence would address the problem by establishing a "Department of Community Safety" to prevent violence before it happens by taking a public health approach to violence.
Sonia Ossorio is president of the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women. She told the Beacon that police are absolutely needed to respond to domestic violence reports.
She said they are "often the most high-lethality cases where police response is urgently needed."
Ossorio said, "The idea of removing police protection is outrageous."
An early July poll of registered voters in New York showed Mamdani continuing a strong lead following the city's ranked choice mayoral primary. He picked up 35% support in the poll, 10 points ahead of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo has not declared himself an independent candidate, though he suggested that was a possibility after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani.
Jim Mishler ✉
Jim Mishler, a seasoned reporter, anchor and news director, has decades of experience covering crime, politics and environmental issues.
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