Mayor Zohran Mamdani touted the city's new quarter billion dollar inmate hospital unit as he presided Friday over the largest Department of Correction graduation in nearly a decade.
As he congratulated the class of 261 new recruits, Mamdani reaffirmed his administration's commitment to the DOC, telling the grads that "for too long, this city has demanded excellence of you while asking you to work in crumbling facilities."
“That expectation does not serve those who are in custody or those who are serving each and every single day,” he said at the Colden Auditorium at Queens College in Flushing.
the luxe, new quarter-billion-dollar inmate hospital unit today as he presided over the city’s largest Department of Corrections graduation in almost seven years — but not everyone seems convinced by his shiny commitment to the Department.
Hizzoner then boasted about the newly-opened 104-bed, $241 million unit at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, which will treat Rikers Island inmates with complex medical needs. City Hall has dubbed it a “major step” in shuttering the notoriously troubled jail complex.
"Bellevue will also go a long way in ensuring the safety of all who work within our corrections system, and we are proud to now include you within that group," Mamdani told the recruits.
He lauded that this was “just the beginning” of City Hall’s efforts and commitment to improving DOC facilities across the city, though not everyone seemed convinced of his promises.
Benny Boscio Jr., president of the NYC Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, called out misconceptions regarding Rikers, even as he warned the grads that they were about to embark on one of the “toughest law enforcement jobs in this country."
“We have seen a pattern in this city when there is an unfortunate death in custody, perhaps due to overdoses, underlying medical conditions or suicide - there are those who rush to point fingers at the officers on post, instead of taking responsibility failed policies under staffing and years of neglect toward our city's jails," he said.
“There is a narrative being pushed about closing Rikers Island, and because of that political agenda, every incident is magnified to fit that narrative. But the truth is, this tragedy is not defined by a building or an address," Boscio continued.
"Safety is determined by policy, staffing resources and leadership willing to tell the truth,” he said.
The graduating class was the department's largest since 2019, said a spokesperson for the DOC, which usually holds two matriculation ceremonies a year.
Recruitment began to tick up again in 2025 following years of declines, with 103 graduates at the department's March ceremony and 167 that September.
Boscio, in his speech to grads on Friday, denounced politicians who fail to publicly acknowledge the dangers faced by DOC officers alongside speaking out about inmate deaths.
“Last year, there were over 600 assaults on New York City correction officers, including 25 sexual assaults on our female officers. Very few elected officials even recognize this injustice against our officers,” he fumed.
“I call upon every elected official who is quick to tweet about an inmate death to use their platforms to also condemn the assaults against my members and recognize that our lives matter too."