NEW YORK (Diya TV) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is preparing to move forward with a major change to the city’s police department. He plans to disband the New York Police Department’s Strategic Response Group, a specialized unit that handles counterterrorism operations and protest response, according to a report by Politico.
The expected announcement would fulfill one of Mamdani’s key campaign promises. However, the proposal could also reshape how New York City handles large demonstrations, public gatherings and security threats.
Three unnamed sources familiar with the discussions told Politico that Mamdani could announce the plan as early as this week. The administration has not finalized every detail. Still, officials have considered creating a separate civilian unit to manage protests and public demonstrations.
Under the proposed plan, a civilian team would take the lead during protests. Its primary responsibility would involve reducing tensions and preventing confrontations.
Meanwhile, NYPD officers would remain nearby to provide support. They could step in and make arrests when necessary. This approach would separate protest management from the department’s counterterrorism responsibilities.
According to one source, City Hall has also considered placing the new civilian team under the mayor’s Office of Community Safety. Mamdani launched the office earlier this year as part of his administration’s public safety efforts.
Although officials have not confirmed the final structure, the proposal signals a possible shift in the city’s approach to managing demonstrations. It would also change how police officers interact with protesters during large public events.
Mamdani made the decision to dissolve the Strategic Response Group a campaign commitment last year. He argued that the unit should not handle both counterterrorism operations and responses to people exercising their constitutional rights.
A City Hall spokesperson did not directly answer Politico’s questions about the proposal. However, spokesperson Dora Pekec confirmed that the administration intends to fulfill the mayor’s pledge.
“As the Mayor has said, our administration will disband the Strategic Response Group and separate protest response from counterterrorism,” Pekec said in a statement. “We will have more to share soon.”
The administration’s statement reinforces Mamdani’s position on the future of the NYPD unit. It also suggests that City Hall is preparing to share additional details about the plan.
The NYPD established the Strategic Response Group more than a decade ago. The unit handles counterterrorism responsibilities and crowd control during major public events.
Police department leaders have defended the unit’s role. They describe its officers as highly trained professionals who can manage large and unpredictable crowds. They also credit the team with carrying out arrests safely during complicated demonstrations.
However, Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America have raised concerns about the unit’s use of physical force. They argue that its protest-response duties should remain separate from its counterterrorism work.
Mamdani has also pointed to the high number of misconduct complaints involving SRG officers. He has used those concerns to support his campaign promise to abolish the unit.
During a September news conference, the mayor explained his position. He said the department originally created the SRG to address terrorist threats against New York City.
However, he argued that the unit eventually took on another responsibility: responding to people exercising their First Amendment rights.
Mamdani said those two responsibilities do not need to remain under one unit. Instead, he supports maintaining a dedicated counterterrorism function while developing a separate approach to protest response.
The mayor’s expected announcement could come through an executive order, according to the sources cited by Politico. Such an order could formally establish the administration’s direction for dismantling the SRG.
Nevertheless, several questions remain unanswered. Officials have not confirmed when the civilian unit would begin operating or how the administration would organize its responsibilities.
The city also needs to clarify how NYPD officers would coordinate with civilian personnel during major demonstrations. Their role in arrests, crowd safety, and emergency situations could shape how the new system works.
For now, Mamdani’s administration has confirmed its intention to disband the Strategic Response Group but has not released a complete implementation plan.
