NYPD Captain Banished After His Viral Rant
An NYPD captain reassigned after criticizing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on camera has become an unlikely conservative folk hero, with Republican lawmakers and police supporters rallying behind him and accusing…
An NYPD captain reassigned after criticizing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on camera has become an unlikely conservative folk hero, with Republican lawmakers and police supporters rallying behind him and accusing City Hall of punishing dissent.
Capt. James G. Wilson, formerly the executive officer of Brooklyn’s 94th Precinct in Greenpoint, was transferred to the NYPD’s 911 call center in the Bronx after a video surfaced showing him mocking the city’s new mayor during a tense protest outside Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Bushwick.
The footage quickly spread online and ignited debate over free speech, political bias, and whether police officers should face disciplinary action for expressing personal political opinions while on duty.
In the clip, Wilson can be heard dismissing Mamdani as “an embarrassment” and “total nonsense” after protesters reminded him the mayor was technically his boss.
“He’s expendable, he’s temporary,” Wilson said, smiling as demonstrators continued to challenge him.
“Not my mayor,” he added.
At another point in the exchange, Wilson reportedly broadened his criticism beyond Mamdani, referring to Democrats as a “waste of human race.”
The comments triggered an internal NYPD review and led to Wilson’s reassignment. Department officials said the disciplinary process remains ongoing, citing long-standing rules prohibiting officers from publicly expressing partisan political views while on duty.
But conservatives argue Wilson is being selectively targeted because his remarks were aimed at a progressive Democratic mayor.
Councilwoman Joann Ariola, a Queens Republican, blasted the city’s response and accused officials of hypocrisy.
“If Capt. Wilson had said something negative about Donald Trump, he’d probably be declared a hero and get a medal and a dinner at Gracie Mansion,” Ariola said.
“But since he spoke out against Dear Leader Mamdani, the manufactured outrage machine is kicking into gear, and the radicals are coming out of the woodwork to silence all public dissent.”