Darializa Chelier calls for NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to resign, cites strong tie to Mayor Mamdani

Democratic House candidate Darializa Avila Chelier publicly demanded that NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch resign during a press appearance in New York City on Oct. 15, 2026.

Chelier, a self‑described firebrand within the Democratic Socialists of America, argued that Tisch had failed to condemn actions by ICE officers and to launch a serious investigation into NYPD behavior, especially after an alleged ICE shooting in the Bronx earlier that month.

Despite the sharp criticism, Chelier told reporters she and Mayor Zohran Mamdani “talk all the time” and enjoy a “great relationship,” joking that they found The New York Post’s coverage of the dispute absurd.

The mayor, who appointed Tisch earlier in the year, has publicly pledged to disband the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group and to increase accountability mechanisms, a promise that Chelier says aligns with her own campaign priorities.

Chelier’s call for Tisch’s ouster follows a wave of progressive pressure on the mayor’s administration after ICE agents shot an undocumented migrant in the Bronx on Oct. 8. In a lengthy tweet, Chelier claimed the NYPD violated the city’s sanctuary policies and urged the commissioner to step down.

City Hall insiders describe the situation as a “direct undermining” of Mayor Mamdani, noting that staffers are uneasy about Chelier’s outspoken stance and her growing influence within the mayor’s own political base.

Other candidates endorsed by Mamdani, such as Brad Lander and Claire Valdez, have not echoed Chelier’s demands, underscoring a split within the mayor’s progressive coalition.

As the House primary race for New York’s 13th congressional district heads toward the November ballot, Chelier’s team says a speech calling for Tisch’s removal is in the works, potentially delivering the next flashpoint in the city’s policing debate.