NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch says the city may soon get authority needed to take down hostile drones

The ongoing threat of global terrorism, supercharged in recent years by drones as a weapon of war, was top of mind Tuesday for NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch as she announced that the department expects to soon add technology designed to take down hostile drones intent on attacking the city.

Currently, the NYPD can detect unauthorized drones but lacks authority to take them down. The department is waiting for the expected federal approval of the technology, said Tisch, who did not specify what methods were being sought.

Speaking at the annual State of The NYPD address before an audience of city business leaders and politicians, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Tisch said persistent threats have emerged around the world from ISIS. 

"New York City remains part of that threat calculus and we plan accordingly," Tisch said at the annual event hosted by the nonprofit New York City Police Foundation.

Referring to the war in Ukraine and the way drone technology has changed the nature of conflict, Tisch said the new warfare methods are her greatest worry.

"The thing that keeps me up at night is drones, tactics that once belonged to the military are now increasingly acceptable to smaller groups and individuals, and commercial drones can be easily adapted into weapons of war," Tisch said.

In a wide-ranging speech, Tisch reminded the audience of how in the past year, the NYPD has driven down violent crime such as shootings and homicides to the lowest levels since the modern era of record-keeping began in 1994. She took over in November 2024 as commissioner of a police department wracked by scandal and low morale.

Tisch noted the drop in serious crime — 7% for January — was largely based on officers rising to the occasion through various overtime initiatives and specialized units. After the speech, Scott Munro, head of the Detectives' Endowment Association, said detectives also contributed to the crime results.

In the Bronx, which traditionally has had a large crime problem compared to its population size, plans are in place to divide the borough into two patrol commands and bring in an additional 200 officers, Tisch said. Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens already are split into two such commands.

Tisch also acknowledged that problems with the current generation of taser devices — originally put in service to reduce the likelihood of deadly force — is prompting the use of a new generation of the device that allows officers to stand farther away from potential suspects or disturbed persons.

In addition, precinct logs, which since 1845 have been written by hand in big ledger books, a cumbersome and antiquated process, will be digitized, allowing commanders throughout the NYPD to have real-time view of everything going on in precincts, Tisch said.

The police commissioner's address contained plenty of good news, acknowledged former NYPD Commissioner William Bratton, who was in the audience Tuesday.

But potential city budget cuts create a degree of uncertainty about the possible financial effect on the NYPD, Bratton told Newsday.

As expected, Tisch announced the appointment of Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Rev. A.R. Bernard as co-chief chaplains. She also announced the police academy in College Point, Queens, will be officially renamed after the late Det. Steven McDonald in July.

McDonald, of Malverne, was shot and partially paralyzed in 1986 but inspired many by overcoming some of his affliction and offering a message of forgiveness to the teenager who wounded him.

"Steven McDonald is truly the embodiment of what we want our officers to be," Tisch said.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.