Thousands Mourn Officer Didarul Islam Killed in Manhattan

Thousands gathered outside a Bronx mosque Thursday to pay tribute to NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, 36, who was fatally shot during a Midtown Manhattan shooting earlier this week.

The fallen officer's funeral drew fellow officers, local residents, and community leaders, turning the street into a solemn sea of mourning, memories, and political tension.

Islam, remembered as a dedicated officer, a beloved father, and a community figure, was honored with heartfelt prayers and eulogies. NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban posthumously promoted him to detective first grade in front of the grieving crowd.

Mayor Eric Adams used the moment to commend the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG) for their handling of the deadly shooting.

“They entered the building while the shooter was still alive, and they conducted a floor-by-floor search,” Adams said. “They wanted to ensure that everyone in that building would have come out safely.”

Adams’s remarks drew attention to the controversial SRG unit, which has become a flashpoint in the city’s political discourse. His opponent in the mayoral race, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, has vowed to eliminate the unit, citing its aggressive tactics during protest crackdowns.

“I will disband the S.R.G., which has cost taxpayers millions in lawsuit settlements + brutalized countless New Yorkers,” Mamdani previously stated on social media.

Despite their opposing views, Mamdani sat alongside Islam’s family at the funeral—an invitation extended by the grieving relatives, according to his campaign. Just a day prior, Mamdani reiterated his commitment to disbanding the SRG during a joint appearance with the union representing Aland Etienne, the slain security guard also killed in the attack.

“What we saw on Monday was an example of how we would want a response to look like to an emergency,” Mamdani said. “What we also see, however, in this city is the treatment of protest as if it requires the same.”

The SRG, tasked with citywide crisis response and crowd control, came under fire for its role in the 2020 racial justice protests, where reports of excessive force and “kettling” tactics led to multiple lawsuits. In response, the NYPD agreed to limit the SRG’s presence at protests under new guidelines following legal settlements.

As New Yorkers continue to grapple with the tragedy, Islam’s death is now intertwined with a deeper debate about the future of policing, public safety, and accountability in the city he served.

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