Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani proposed creating the Department of Community Safety to handle mental health crisis calls, freeing police officers from these duties. He emphasized the need to stop overburdening police with non-law enforcement responsibilities. At a National Night Out event in Brooklyn, Mamdani acknowledged the service of police officers, particularly after a recent mass shooting incident, reinforcing his respect for their sacrifices. Despite a cautious atmosphere, some officers engaged positively with Mamdani, indicating a mixed reception to his candidacy and proposals.
Mamdani stated, "We must stop asking [police] to respond to nearly every single failure of the social safety net. We must stop making it impossible for them to do their jobs by asking them to do every other job we can think of."
Mamdani proposed launching the Department of Community Safety to handle calls involving individuals experiencing mental health crises—removing that burden from police officers and allowing them to focus on crime fighting.
During the event, Mamdani expressed gratitude to police officers, noting he gained renewed appreciation for their service after a recent tragic mass shooting in Midtown, stating, "the sacrifice and the service that so many officers extend to this city each and every day."
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