During a mayoral debate hosted by Spectrum News New York 1, Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic socialist candidate for New York City mayor, unveiled his plan to overhaul the city’s 911 response system by giving dispatchers more discretion over whether police should be sent to calls for help. His proposal, which he claimed has been “proven to work elsewhere in the country,” has faced sharp criticism from law enforcement experts who argue that the idea is reckless and ill-conceived.
Mamdani, who previously called for defunding the NYPD, asserted in the debate that the city should trust dispatchers to determine if an emergency call involves violence, suggesting that such decisions could be made over the phone. Critics, however, argue that this approach would create liability risks and potentially lead to dangerous situations. Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor of criminal justice at Penn State Lehigh Valley, called the plan “the worst idea I’ve heard of in a long time,” emphasizing that the decision to send police to an emergency involves complex judgment that cannot be made over the phone.
“What happens when the dispatcher is wrong and someone dies? Is it an oops?” Giacalone questioned, highlighting the potential legal and ethical consequences of such a policy. He also pointed out that the plan lacks consultation with those who would be responsible for implementing it, including dispatchers and first responders. “This is NYC, not Sheboygan,” Giacalone added, referencing a city with a much smaller population, to underscore the unique challenges of a large urban center.
Other critics, such as retired NYPD lieutenant John Macari, have also voiced concerns, stating that Mamdani’s plan would not serve the public interest. Macari, who supports Republican Curtis Sliwa, argued that the proposal would make the job of law enforcement harder and endanger civilians. “No one can safely assess the threat level of an emotionally disturbed individual over the phone,” Macari said, pointing to the unpredictable nature of such calls.
Mamdani’s campaign did not respond to questions about the proposal, but his history of advocating for defunding the NYPD has raised eyebrows. While he recently claimed he would not defund the department if elected, his past rhetoric suggests a broader agenda of reducing the NYPD’s role in public safety. Critics argue that his push for replacing police with social workers and “transit ambassadors” on some 911 calls aligns with a broader movement to defund and restructure law enforcement in the city.
Despite the criticism, Mamdani has maintained a strong lead in the Democratic primary, with his primary win over former governor Andrew Cuomo being attributed to voters rejecting his rival rather than widespread support for his policies. His continued emphasis on social justice and public safety reform has kept him in the spotlight, even as experts and law enforcement officials warn that his plan could have severe consequences for New York City’s emergency response system.