Slain NYPD Det. Islam’s family offers hopeful message as Cuomo, Adams go on attack

NYPD Officer Didarul Islam’s family called for unity in their first remarks since his killing, distancing themselves from the mayoral politics swirling around the mass shooting that took his life.

Islam's family spoke from their Bronx home on Tuesday evening, thanking Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. But they avoided speaking about the political debate sparked by the shooting at the Park Avenue office tower that left four dead, including Islam, as well as the gunman.

“In this difficult time, we saw something powerful,” said Islam's brother-in-law Zamilur Rahman, reading from a piece of paper in the family’s living room. “People from all walks of life, from all parts of the city coming together to support one another. The sense of unity gives us hope.”

Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo have both seized on the shooting as a chance to criticize Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani’s past criticisms of the NYPD. They also laid into his proposal to disband the NYPD's Strategic Response Group, which responded to the shooting.

Mamdani has not backed off the policy, citing the "millions in lawsuit settlements" the city has had to pay as a result of the group's aggressive response to protests.

The attacks on Mamdani have been somewhat blunted by the progressive candidate’s connection with Islam’s family in the wake of the shooting. Islam was among the growing number of Bangladeshi New Yorkers who have joined the city’s police department in recent years. Mamdani, who is also a South Asian Muslim, campaigned in mosques and nearly crossed paths with Islam a few months ago. During Islam’s funeral last Thursday, his family members invited Mamdani to sit beside them at the mosque.

On Tuesday, Islam’s family focused on the condolences they received from all corners of the city. The response to the tragedy, they said, “shows the kind of city we all want to live in, where kindness rises above differences.”

Islam’s father Mohammed Abdur Rob confirmed that he had suffered a stroke upon hearing of his only son’s death.

“Without him here, I feel emptiness,” Abdur Rob said in Bengali alongside Islam's mother, two sisters and 4-year-old and 7-year-old sons. A portrait of Islam in uniform was displayed on a coffee table.

Their remarks came the same day mayoral candidates took part in the city’s annual “National Night Out” events, which seek to foster and strengthen ties between communities and police officers.

Mamdani shook hands with police officers Tuesday night in Brooklyn. He was joined by state Attorney General Letitia James and city Comptroller Brad Lander.

The nominee invoked Islam, who was posthumously promoted to detective, during his public remarks.

“I learned in the lesson from Detective Didarul Islam’s life the sacrifice and the service that so many officers extend to this city each and every day, no matter which precinct that they belong to,” he said.

On Wednesday, one of the mayor’s top aides attacked Mamdani for those comments, too.

“Seriously? He’s been an elected official for four years but JUST learned about officers’ sacrifice and service?” said Fabien Levy, the deputy mayor for communications, on X.

He said Mamdani’s comments were “disqualifying” for a candidate who could lead the country's largest police department.

Adams’ own leadership of the NYPD has been marked with scandal and turmoil. Former Commissioner Edward Caban resigned amid federal allegations that his twin brother was operating a protection racket with local bars and nightclubs. Jeffrey Maddrey, once the NYPD’s highest ranking uniformed officer, was forced to step down after an allegation of sexual abuse. And Phil Banks, Adams’ former deputy mayor for public safety, left City Hall after his phones were seized as part of a federal investigation.

Meanwhile, Cuomo’s campaign attacked Mamdani’s comment that police officers should not be forced to respond to mental health calls. Mamdani has pledged to remake the department to allow officers to focus on crimes and deploy more trained mental health experts to defuse volatile situations.

Melissa DeRosa, a close adviser to Cuomo, questioned Mamdani’s proposals to divert certain types of 911 emergency calls to mental health and social workers in a post on X.

Cuomo earlier this week proposed ideas to offer police signing and retention bonuses as part of his plan to add 5,000 police officers. He also said he would add 400 officers to the Strategic Response Group.