Zohran Mamdani Advocates for Mental Health-Led Public Safety Reform in New York City

Several U.S. cities have already shifted emergency response responsibilities from police officers to specialized crisis teams. For example, Oregon deploys crisis workers to handle emergency calls, Denver has integrated behavioral health experts since 2020, and Tucson operates a round-the-clock crisis center.

Building on these models, Zohran Mamdani, the leading Democratic candidate in New York City’s mayoral race, proposes establishing a dedicated agency to send mental health professionals citywide in response to crises.

His 17-page public safety proposal outlines the creation of a civilian-led Department of Community Safety. This new department would dispatch mental health teams to 911 calls and expand street-level programs designed to break the cycle of violence.

Elle Bisgaard-Church, Mamdani’s chief advisor, explains that the plan aims to unify existing initiatives and new projects under one umbrella agency. The goal is to apply public health approaches to violence prevention while reducing the strain on the city’s police force.

Bisgaard-Church emphasized that a fragmented approach would be insufficient to achieve these objectives.

Mamdani’s mayoral rivals, including the current mayor and other prominent candidates, argue that increasing the number of police officers on the streets is the most effective way to combat crime. They have pledged to bolster recruitment efforts amid a Police Department workforce decline from a peak of 40,000 officers in 2000 to approximately 34,000 today.

In contrast, Mamdani has stated his intention to maintain current police staffing levels. He points out that the department’s reduced personnel and the resulting mandatory overtime negatively impact officers’ quality of life.