Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-12**Lead**
New York City Council Member Mamdani on Monday unveiled a sweeping internal review of the New York Police Department’s use-of-force policies, a move that follows months of public pressure and a series of high-profile incidents. The review, which encompasses officer training, de-escalation protocols, and disciplinary procedures, is being hailed by the administration as a significant step toward accountability. However, critics and community advocates note that the measure stops short of fulfilling several key campaign promises that Mamdani made during his election run, including the creation of an independent civilian oversight board and a complete ban on chokeholds and other neck restraints.
**Context**
The NYPD has long been under scrutiny for its use-of-force practices, particularly after the killing of George Floyd in 2020 and subsequent protests that swept the nation. In New York, incidents such as the death of Eric Garner in 2014 and the more recent arrest of a Bronx man that resulted in a broken neck have kept the issue at the forefront of public debate. Mamdani, who campaigned on a platform of police reform and racial justice, promised to overhaul the department’s approach to force. During his campaign, he pledged to establish an independent commission with subpoena power to review use-of-force incidents, mandate body cameras for all officers, and end the use of certain restraint techniques that have been linked to deaths.
The review announced Monday includes a detailed analysis of training curricula, a revision of the department’s use-of-force continuum, and a new early-warning system to identify officers with multiple complaints. According to the NYPD’s own data, the number of use-of-force incidents has declined over the past two years, but the rate of injuries to civilians during arrests remains a concern. The review also incorporates recommendations from the department’s internal affairs bureau and a task force composed of precinct commanders. Yet, conspicuously absent are the independent oversight body and the categorical ban on chokeholds—both of which were central to Mamdani’s campaign rhetoric.
**Analise**
The decision to stop short of those promises reflects the political realities of governing a city with a powerful police union and a mayor who has taken a more cautious approach to reform. Mamdani, who represents a district that includes both high-crime neighborhoods and progressive enclaves, must balance the demands of activists with the need to maintain operational support from rank-and-file officers. The review, while comprehensive in scope, relies on internal mechanisms rather than external accountability—a compromise that may satisfy moderate voters but risks alienating the grassroots coalition that helped Mamdani win office.
This partial fulfillment of campaign pledges also signals a broader trend in urban policing reform across the United States. Many elected officials who campaigned on transformational change have faced similar pushback from law enforcement unions and city budget constraints. In New York, the NYPD’s budget remains one of the largest in the country, and any move perceived as weakening officer authority can trigger fierce resistance. The absence of an independent board means that use-of-force investigations will continue to be handled internally, a process that critics argue lacks transparency. Without a ban on chokeholds, officers retain the ability to use neck restraints in certain circumstances, despite evidence that such techniques can be fatal.
**Fontes**
This article is based on publicly available information from the New York City Council’s official press release, statements from the NYPD’s Office of Public Information, and reports from local news outlets including the New York Times and the Daily News. No interviews or exclusive sources were used. The review document itself was obtained from the council member’s office and is subject to public records requests.