Keeping Jessica Tisch on as NYPD boss offers hope for the city

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani showed wisdom in asking Jessica Tisch to stay on as police commissioner, and her decision to stay on offers much hope for the city.

The challenge now is for the new mayor not to undermine her, despite their deep differences on matters of principle.

Tisch has done a remarkable job overseeing the NYPD since her appointment a year ago.

On her watch, the department’s been shattering records in fighting crime.

This year, murders — at 275 as of Sunday, down a stunning 21% over last year — may well best the lowest number on recent record (292 in 2017).

Shootings are down 23%; even shoplifting is down 13%.

Plus, Tisch took major steps to purge corruption in the NYPD’s top ranks.

 And she’s optimistic she’ll be able to chalk up yet more gains under Mamdani.

“He and I share many of the same public safety goals for New York City: lowering crime, making communities safer, rooting out corruption and giving our officers the tools, support and resources they need,” explained Gotham’s top cop on Wednesday.

Yet the NYPD boss is open about her deep differences with the Democratic Socialist: “Do the mayor-elect and I agree on everything? No,” she admits — which plainly understates the case:

• Tisch opposes recent criminal-justice “reforms,” like cashless bail and Raise the Age, which have fueled crime and hampered cops’ ability to do their jobs; Mamdani thinks those “fixes” don’t go far enough.

• She appreciates the enormous value of the NYPD’s gang database; Mamdani has sought to abolish it.

• Nor could she be eager to lose her power to determine discipline measures, if any, for an officer accused in a complaint, a move that would undermine the department’s chain of command; the mayor-elect has talked up shifting that power to the notoriously anti-cop Civilian Complaint Review Board.

• Tisch backs Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to add 5,000 officers; Mamdani refuses to boost the number by a single cop, and indeed seems poised to let the force shrink more.

And would Tisch, who supports Israel, have officers arrest Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu if he steps foot in the city? The mayor-elect is adamant about it.

How does she feel about his plan to scrap the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group, which not only races to dangerous crime scenes, like the murder of Police Officer Didarul Islam at a Park Avenue office building in July, but also controls violent protests (including the recent rash of antisemitic ones)?

Tisch insists she’s can lead the department “honorably” under Mamdani; we’re sure she’ll do her best.

It’s not her honor we’re worried about, but her ability to rein in the new boss’ most dangerous instincts.

Cross your fingers: It’s a huge win for New York City if this odd couple can make it work.