NYC Mayor Mamdani Rejects Adams' Plan to Hire 5,000 More NYPD Officers

Mamdani faces backlash for not funding former mayor's proposal to boost police force

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced criticism for rejecting a plan by his predecessor, former Mayor Eric Adams, to hire 5,000 additional police officers. Adams' proposal would have increased the NYPD's headcount to 40,000, a level last seen during Rudy Giuliani's tenure as mayor in the 1990s. However, Mamdani has prioritized addressing the NYPD's staffing challenges, with the department currently down about 1,000 officers from its budgeted headcount as officers leave in high numbers.

Why it matters

Mamdani's decision not to fund Adams' plan has sparked backlash from some officials, who argue the additional officers are needed to stabilize the force, reduce overtime, and ensure public safety. However, Mamdani has proposed establishing a Department of Community Safety to handle certain non-violent calls, arguing the NYPD has taken on too many responsibilities beyond traditional law enforcement.

The details

Adams' plan would have increased the NYPD's headcount to 40,000 officers, a level last seen during Rudy Giuliani's tenure as mayor in the 1990s. However, Mamdani has rejected the proposal, citing the NYPD's current staffing challenges, with the department down about 1,000 officers from its budgeted headcount as officers leave in high numbers, with an estimated 250 to 300 departing each month.

  • In February 2026, Mayor Zohran Mamdani rejected former Mayor Eric Adams' plan to hire 5,000 additional NYPD officers.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City who has rejected a plan by his predecessor to hire 5,000 additional NYPD officers.

Eric Adams

The former mayor of New York City who proposed a plan to hire 5,000 additional NYPD officers, which was rejected by the current mayor.

Patrick Hendry

The president of the Police Benevolent Association, who has criticized Mamdani's decision and argued that the NYPD needs to retain its current officers.

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What they’re saying

“Five thousand officers is not excess. It is necessary to stabilize the force, reduce crushing overtime, and ensure the health, safety, and well-being of every New Yorker.”

— Eric Adams, Former Mayor (CBS News New York)

“It's not going to change anything for the NYPD. We still have a huge workload. This is only 2% of our workload, mental health jobs. We need to keep police officers in this department.”

— Patrick Hendry, Police Benevolent Association President (CBS News New York)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Mamdani's decision not to fund Adams' plan to hire 5,000 additional NYPD officers has sparked a debate over the department's staffing challenges and the best approach to addressing public safety concerns in New York City.