Democratic politicians who promoted the “defund the police” movement expressed condolences following the death of a New York City police officer in a Manhattan shooting on Monday. 

Officer Didarul Islam was off duty when a gunman entered the 345 Park Ave. building, where Islam worked as a security guard. Islam was one of four people fatally shot by an M4 rifle. 

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Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) appeared on CNN NewsNight hours after the shooting. Islam worked in the police precinct in Torres’s district. Torres, before winning his seat in Congress, was on the New York City Council and voted to defund the New York City Police Department by $1 billion. 

“I’m not in favor of more police; I’m actually in favor of defunding the police,” Torres said in a June 2020 radio interview.

By the time of his election that November, Torres told Politico, “Defund the Police did everything it could to derail my candidacy.” When he took office, he called the movement “arbitrary and irresponsible.” 

On Tuesday, Torres honored Islam’s “sacrifice.” 

“Officer Didarul Islam was just 36 years old, a young man with his whole life ahead of him. He leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children,” Torres wrote on X.

“Behind every badge is a human being. A spouse. A parent. A son or daughter. Every time you see the men and women of the NYPD, remember the risks they take to protect us,” Torres added. “Just take a moment to thank them for their service and sacrifice.”

Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old New York assemblyman running for mayor, also called to “defund the police” in the past. In addition, Mamdani referred to the NYPD as “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety” in 2020.

After launching his mayoral campaign, Mamdani said during a debate this year that he would “not defund the police” but “work with the police.”

Mamdani wrote on X Tuesday to “honor the legacy” of Islam.

“When he joined the police department, his mother asked him why he would pursue such a dangerous job. He told her it was to leave behind a legacy that his family could be proud of,” Mamdani wrote. “He has done that, and more.”

“I pray for him, his family, and honor the legacy of service and sacrifice he leaves behind,” he wrote.

DESANTIS LAMBASTS MAMDANI’S PAST CALLS TO DEFUND NYC POLICE AS ‘ASININE’ POLICY

Like Mamdani, Torres is in the middle of a campaign. Torres is seeking the governorship and facing Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY).

Hochul, who condemned the “defund the police” movement, ordered all flags in New York to be lowered to half-staff.