The NYPD detectives union says officers should not accompany Rama Duwaji on a Syria and Lebanon trip because both countries are under a Do Not Travel warning.
The NYPD detectives union is pushing back hard against any plan to send officers with Rama Duwaji on her upcoming Syria and Lebanon trip, calling the idea unsafe and unnecessary. Union president Scott Munro said Wednesday that detectives should stay focused on protecting New Yorkers at home, not traveling into what he described as a dangerous part of the world.
Munro said the issue was not political, but a matter of officer safety. He argued that city detectives already have enough to handle in New York City and should not be placed in harm’s way for what he described as a personal journey. “This isn’t about politics at all — it’s not about politics,” Munro said. “This is about keeping the New York City detectives safe, out of harm’s way. Let them do their job here in New York City. That’s what they’re here for.” He also used even blunter language, saying, “It’s a no-fly area. It’s a no-go zone. We are not going there.”
The dispute followed an announcement from a representative for Mayor Zohran Mamdani earlier this week saying Duwaji would travel with her NYPD security detail when she leaves next month to visit family in the Middle East. That plan was quickly shot down by police brass on Tuesday. Mamdani later blamed the mix-up on what he called a “miscommunication” between City Hall and the NYPD.
Duwaji is scheduled to depart on Sept. 20 for personal trips to Syria and Lebanon, where she has relatives. Both countries carry a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning from the U.S. State Department, the highest advisory the federal government issues. That designation is reserved for places officials say pose an extreme risk because of terrorism, civil unrest or crime.
“The NYPD detectives union says officers should not accompany Rama Duwaji on a Syria and Lebanon trip because both countries are under a Do Not Travel warning.”
An NYPD spokesperson said Tuesday that the department does not send officers to countries with Level 4 travel advisories when the travel is discretionary and not tied to investigative work. “This is not an investigative trip, and therefore, NYPD personnel will not be traveling there for it,” the spokesperson said. That statement effectively closed the door on the idea of assigning detectives to the trip.
Munro said the department has overseas liaisons, but he stressed that those assignments are tied to police work, not personal or social travel. He said the city’s detectives face enough pressure inside the five boroughs, pointing to protests and daily police demands. “We have a hard enough job here today to do the job here in New York City, with everything going on, with protests, your day-to-day,” he said.
The episode highlights the tension that can surface when City Hall, police leadership and security planning collide, especially when travel reaches countries under the strictest federal warning. For New Yorkers, the issue is less about politics than about how public resources are used and where officers are sent. The takeaway: the NYPD says its detectives will stay in New York, not on a discretionary trip to Syria and Lebanon.
Frequently asked questions
Why won’t the NYPD send officers on the trip?
An Nypd spokesperson said the department does not send officers to countries with Level 4 advisories for discretionary travel. The department said Duwaji’s trip is not investigative, so personnel will not go.
Where is Rama Duwaji planning to travel?
She is scheduled to leave on Sept. 20 for personal trips to Syria and Lebanon. The trip is described as a visit to family in the Middle East.
What did the detectives union say about the plan?
Union president Scott Munro said detectives should not be put in danger and should focus on their duties in New York City. He said the proposed trip detail was not appropriate.
What did Mayor Zohran Mamdani say about the controversy?
Mamdani said the problem was a miscommunication between City Hall and the Nypd. His office had earlier announced that Duwaji would travel with her security detail.
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