New York Democrat’s attempt to directly elect NYPD Commissioner was criticized as “the worst idea in history”

State Senator Leroy Comrie proposes that the NYPD Commissioner become an elected office, despite ridicule that the idea could be a disaster if ever implemented.

“The famous saying goes, ‘The cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy,'” says a memorandum attached to a bill introduced Wednesday by Comrie (D-Queens).

“Local governments across our state are currently holding popular elections for a variety of civil service administrative positions such as sheriff, coroner, warden, tax officer, and others,” the memo added.

As much as an elected commissioner might theoretically improve New York’s democracy — elected officials, veteran cops and others say the reality will be very different in practice.

“Worst. Idea. Ever,” the veteran cop said Wednesday. “Being a police commissioner – especially given New York politics – shouldn’t be a popularity contest. He should be shielded from this toxic political environment.

“The mayor needs autonomy over the police department. The work of the police commissioner is related to expertise, and not to election campaigning. The democratic process lives with the mayor.”

R-Staten Island City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli said “voter apathy” could help Progressives elect someone who is at odds with voters who supported pro-police candidates in recent election cycles.

“One low turnout race and we’ll get another Alvin Bragg,” he said, referring to the progressive Manhattan district attorney who has been accused of being soft on crime since he took office in early 2022 and began relax the policy of arrests.

Comrie’s proposal would see police commissioners in cities with more than 100,000 people elected to four-year terms, as the statute says.

“Choosing leadership positions is not just about voting for one person, it’s about directing them to nominate capable and effective cabinet members who can work together to govern,” City Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) said.

On Wednesday, Comrie did not comment on why he is pushing the much-maligned proposal, which has come to nothing in the past four years. in lower Manhattan.

“The last thing we need is to bring more politics into the management of the NYPD. Police commissioners already serve the pleasure of a democratically elected mayor. We need them to be law enforcement professionals who are fully focused on protecting our city and not running for office,” Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association, told The Post.

NYPD rank and file also criticized the idea of ​​bringing more politics into the world’s most famous municipal law enforcement agency.

Leave politics to Hizzonner, who appointed Keechant Sewell as the first black woman to lead the NYPD, critics of the bill say.

Other critics of the bill wondered if Albany Democrats could make the FDNY Commissioner and heads of other city departments subject to voter approval if the bill somehow passed the State Senate and was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

According to Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, the current lineup of elected officials is unlikely to inspire confidence in voters’ ability to elect a police chief who can do his job with minimal disruption. , said.

“Yeah? No,” he said. “If you look at some of the politicians we’ve had, we obviously don’t get the most qualified candidates. The police commissioner should always be appointed by the mayor so that he or she can report directly to him.”

With reporting by Joe Marino, Craig McCarthy and Joe Marino.