New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ordered a comprehensive review of NYPD use-of-force practices, marking the first such examination in a decade, while allocating an additional $2.6 million to strengthen independent police oversight.

The review will be conducted by the NYPD Inspector General’s Office, which operates under the city’s Department of Investigation. The office is led by Christina Soto, who was appointed by DOI Commissioner Nadia Shihata, a Mamdani appointee.

The announcement comes amid controversy surrounding the retirement of NYPD Officer Salvatore Alongi last Thursday, before he could face a departmental disciplinary trial over the March 2024 fatal shooting of Win Rosario, a 19-year-old Queens resident with mental illness.

Police were dispatched to Rosario’s Ozone Park home following a 911 call. Body camera footage shows Rosario approaching officers with scissors as family members pleaded with police not to shoot. Officers had reportedly deployed Tasers twice before Rosario charged at them. Alongi and Officer Matthew Cianfrocco then fired their weapons. Rosario later died at a hospital.

In December, New York Attorney General Letitia James declined to pursue criminal charges against the officers, although the NYPD could still pursue internal disciplinary action.

Mamdani said the new review is intended to strengthen accountability while ensuring officers receive appropriate training and guidance in the use of force. He emphasized that interactions between government officials and residents must meet the highest standards of accountability and respect.

The initiative has drawn criticism from police leadership. Scott Munro, president of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, accused the mayor of supporting what he characterized as biased, anti-police oversight while weakening NYPD operations.

Munro warned that the administration’s approach could damage morale, push experienced detectives out of the department and make it harder to recruit new officers, potentially affecting public safety.

The additional funding will triple the Inspector General’s current staffing. The office previously employed nearly 40 people but was reduced to just three employees last year, prompting concerns from government watchdogs about its ability to carry out meaningful oversight.

The review is expected to examine how the NYPD uses force, with the broader debate centering on police accountability, officer training and the potential impact of expanded oversight on law enforcement operations.