New York, US: NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell Tisch delivered a blistering rebuke over the presence of National Guard troops on city streets, calling the move “revolting” and warning it risks eroding public trust in local law enforcement.
Commissioner’s Sharp Rebuke
Speaking at a press briefing Monday morning at Police Headquarters in Lower Manhattan, Commissioner Tisch said she was “deeply troubled” by images of armed Guardsmen patrolling subway stations and major intersections. She argued that large-scale deployment of military troops in New York undermines civilian policing and projects an image of a city under siege rather than one under protection.
“I will be very clear,” Tisch said. “I am revolted by the idea that our neighborhoods, our avenues, and our transit systems should be guarded by soldiers in camouflage. This is not what policing in America is meant to look like.”
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The controversy comes amid growing frustration between New York officials and federal authorities, who ordered a temporary National Guard deployment in several major cities, citing concerns about heightened security threats. While the move was billed as a precautionary measure to reassure the public, Tisch insists its impact does the opposite.
“The role of the police is to maintain safety while building trust. The role of the military is to defend against enemies. To confuse the two responsibilities creates fear, not reassurance,” the commissioner added.
Impact on Daily Life
New Yorkers awoke to an unusual sight this week: squads of National Guard personnel stationed inside Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station, and at key entry points throughout the city. While some commuters expressed appreciation for the added presence, others voiced unease about uniformed soldiers carrying rifles in civilian areas.
“It makes me feel like I’m in a war zone rather than going to work,” said one Midtown office worker. “The city has enough police—we don’t need the Guard standing with guns on 42nd Street.”
Civil liberties advocates echoed those worries, warning that militarization of public spaces could escalate tensions instead of calming them.
What Comes Next
Mayor Eric Adams has tried to strike a middle ground, acknowledging security risks while also emphasizing that New York’s police force is fully capable of handling street-level safety. He has not publicly supported the commissioner’s sharp criticism, but officials inside City Hall have privately admitted growing discomfort about how long the National Guard will remain visible in daily life.
Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul—who approved the Guard’s presence statewide—has defended the measure, saying it is temporary and aimed at “protecting New Yorkers during a time of heightened alert.”
A Defining Test for Leadership
For Commissioner Tisch, this marks one of the most forceful public stands of her tenure. Her remarks hint at a broader debate about the balance between security and civil liberty, especially in an era when major cities are under constant pressure to remain both safe and open.
“This city has survived dark, difficult times before,” Tisch concluded. “We did it by relying on our police officers, our community partnerships, and the trust we build every single day—not by turning our sidewalks into barracks.”
As the debate intensifies, all eyes remain on city and state leaders to determine whether the National Guard will remain a controversial fixture on New York’s streets—or quietly withdraw in the weeks ahead.
