New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ordered the NYPD to conduct its first use-of-force review in a decade – as he announced an extra $2.6 million in funding for independent police oversight.
The directive, announced Monday, comes after an officer involved in the fatal shooting of a mentally ill Queens teenager was allowed to retire before facing a disciplinary trial.
“When the government uses force against a New Yorker, the standard for accountability must be at its highest. Every New Yorker deserves to know that force will be used lawfully, carefully and only when necessary,” Hizzoner said in a statement.
Win Rozario, 19, was killed in March 2024 by police who responded to a 911 call from his home in Ozone Park.
He was shot dead after he lunged at cops with scissors, despite his mom and brother begging them not to shoot, disturbing body camera footage of the incident showed.
Police had fired their Tasers at him twice, but Rozario charged at them, the footage shows.
Two cops, Matthew Cianfrocco and Salvatore Alongi, fired their weapons at Rozario, who later died at the hospital.
Last December, New York Attorney General Letitia James decided not to press criminal charges against the officers, although they were still subject to an internal review by the department.
However, on Thursday, one of the officers involved in Rozario’s death was allowed to retire before his disciplinary trial, outraging Rozario’s family.
“We have an obligation to Win’s family and to every New Yorker who calls for help in a moment of crisis,” Mamdani said.
“This review is about making sure our policies reflect that responsibility, that our officers have the guidance and training they need and that New Yorkers and their families can trust their city will treat them with care and dignity.”
Mamdani also announced that his administration would increase funding for the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD by $2.6 million.
The additional funding will triple the office’s current headcount.
The OIG-NYPD is an independent office that provides oversight of the NYPD and examines its operations and policies.
