NYC Mayor Plans to Disband Protest Response Unit
Mayor Zohran Mamdani aims to disband NYPD’s Strategic Response Group, shifting protest handling to civilian units.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is set to announce the disbanding of the Strategic Response Group (SRG), a unit within the NYPD responsible for counterterrorism and managing violent protests. The decision, reported by Politico, reflects Mamdani’s commitment to separating protest response from counterterrorism operations, as he had promised during his 2025 campaign.
Shift to Civilian Oversight
Mamdani plans to move the responsibility of managing violent protests to a civilian unit, with police serving as a backup in case the new approach fails to maintain order. The Office of Community Safety is expected to house this new unit, which will focus on de-escalation strategies.
A City Hall representative, Dora Pekec, stated that the move aligns with the mayor’s promise to distance the police from being a ‘thorn in the side’ of protesters. ‘Our administration will disband the Strategic Response Group and separate protest response from counterterrorism,’ she said.
Political and Labor Pushback
City Council member Chi Ossé, a democratic socialist, has introduced legislation to support the disbanding of the SRG. However, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) has criticized the decision, claiming it is politically motivated. PBA President Patrick Hendry accused Mamdani of using the move to ‘disband the whole NYPD,’ arguing that the SRG’s dual role was never the real issue.
Hendry also referenced a Biden-era federal lawsuit settlement related to the NYPD’s handling of riots following the death of George Floyd, warning that removing police from protests could increase risks for both officers and the public. He emphasized that the mayor’s actions are driven by a desire to satisfy his political base rather than public safety.
Protest Participation Data
In March, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch revealed that the SRG was involved in approximately 6% of the 4,255 protests where NYPD officers were present in 2025. This data highlights the unit’s relatively limited role in managing protests, despite its dual responsibilities.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
