Brooklyn Borough President and mayoral hopeful Eric Adams on Monday said his critics are wrong to dismiss his background as a police officer — arguing that “black and brown” New Yorkers are more concerned about crime than his opponents in the race would like to believe.

“I don’t believe [if] the same level of crime you’re seeing in black and brown and immigrant communities — if that crime level was all over the city, I don’t believe you would see the silence we see,” the retired NYPD officer said during a rally to accept the endorsement of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

“When I go to community meetings, when I visit these NYCHA developments here, I hear what they’re saying on the ground. I am not shaping my campaign based on Twitter. I’m shaping my campaign based on speaking with real New Yorkers.”

The number of shootings in the city skyrocketed last year — doubling 2019’s figure — while shootings were up 64 percent last week compared to the same time in 2020.

The former cop also defended his NYPD career — referring to himself as “the voice of ending police misconduct” during his time with the department, when he participated in multiple protests against police brutality and founded a pro-reform organization for black officers.

“It amazes me when I hear people say, ‘Well, you were a cop, so people will never vote for you,’ I mean, what are you reading?” he said.

“People have hijacked the conversation of what everyday New Yorkers want. They want to be safe,” Adams said, directing his comments at “anyone that’s not taking about this increasing crime.”