Mamdani orders NYPD use-of-force review and changes to officer discipline
In short
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ordered a review of NYPD use-of-force policies on Monday and announced measures aimed at completing disciplinary cases before officers retire. The package includes $2.6 million in additional funding for the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ordered the NYPD on Monday to review its use-of-force policies and announced changes intended to strengthen accountability for officers accused of misconduct. The examination is the first of its kind in about a decade. CNN reported that it is expected to be completed in the coming months and will involve community groups. [ 1 , 5 ]
The package includes an additional $2.6 million for the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD. UPI reported that the reforms would strengthen retirement notifications to allow disciplinary actions to be completed beforehand, ensure compliance with reporting requirements for police-involved deaths and formalize information sharing after critical incidents involving officers and civilians. [ 4 ]
The announcement follows the retirement of an officer facing discipline over the death of Win Rozario, a 19-year-old killed by police during a mental health crisis in his Queens home in March 2024. CNN reported that the Civilian Complaint Review Board had substantiated excessive-force allegations against officers Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco. The New York Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation declined to pursue criminal charges against the officers. [ 5 ]
Reports differ on when Alongi retired. The New York Post and UPI said the retirement occurred Thursday, before a disciplinary trial or disciplinary measures. CNN said the review board learned in August that Alongi had retired in May. CNN reported that Cianfrocco's case is expected to proceed, citing a board spokesperson, and that Mamdani ordered formal referrals for decertification when officers retire with pending charges to prevent rehiring by other New York law enforcement agencies. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Mamdani said accountability standards should be highest when government uses force and that officers need guidance and training. The Associated Press reported that the mayor faces criticism from supporters over the pace of his plans to shift some police responsibilities to mental healthcare teams. [ 4 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The measures address how officers accused of serious misconduct face discipline when they retire. The announcement follows the retirement of an officer facing a disciplinary case over the police killing of 19-year-old Win Rozario in 2024.
Key facts
- Mamdani ordered a review of NYPD use-of-force policies, the first such review in about a decade. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- The package adds $2.6 million for the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The changes aim to complete disciplinary proceedings before officers retire. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- CNN reported that the review will engage community groups and is expected to be completed in the coming months. [ 5 ]
- CNN reported that the disciplinary case against officer Matthew Cianfrocco is expected to proceed, citing a Civilian Complaint Review Board spokesperson. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Mamdani ordered a review of NYPD use-of-force policies. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The announced measures seek to prevent retirement from interrupting officer disciplinary cases. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- The oversight package includes $2.6 million in additional funding for the NYPD inspector general's office. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The reports give conflicting dates for Salvatore Alongi's retirement. The New York Post and UPI report a Thursday retirement; CNN reports that the review board learned in August of a May retirement.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Bloomberg reported Mamdani's order for a use-of-force review and efforts to prevent retirement from avoiding discipline. [ 1 ]
- UPI detailed the $2.6 million funding increase and changes to retirement notifications and reporting requirements. [ 4 ]
- CNN reported plans to engage community groups in the review and said Cianfrocco's disciplinary case was expected to proceed. [ 5 ]