Since 2018, when the City started disclosing this data, taxpayers have shelled out nearly $930 million to settle lawsuits brought against the NYPD, according to Legal Aid Society's analysis.
The pace and size of these police settlements are continuing under the administration of Zohran Mamdani. So far in 2026, the City has paid more than $53 million to settle some 500 lawsuits, with a median payout of $25,000.
"The disturbing thing, and the reason that we're bringing it up, is that we're seeing payouts be on track [with previous years]," said Amanda Jack, Legal Aid attorney and policy director. "And at the same time, we haven't seen any kind of affirmative vision to end these kinds of abuses of New Yorkers from within the NYPD."