Exclusive | Adams appoints new head of NYPD watchdog, setting another political landmine for Zohran Mamdani

Mayor Eric Adams has named a new head of the NYPD’s independent oversight board — installing a pro-police ally in another attempt to set up political roadblocks for far-left successor Zohran Mamdani, The Post has learned.

Hizzoner quietly tapped former journalist Pat Smith as interim chair of the Civilian Complaint Board this week, filling the top post of the civilian watchdog agency, at least temporarily, according to sources with knowledge of the personnel move.

Smith — who was one of three CCRB members who sided with the cops in the fatal shooting of mentally ill Queens man Win Rosario last year — isn’t expected to make substantial waves with just a few weeks left in the Adams admin, but he could create political problems for Mayor-elect Mamdani.

Mamdani would be forced to fire Smith to name his own CCRB leader after taking office Jan. 1, 2026, which could cause him blowback from the police unions, which signed off on Smith’s appointment.

The democratic socialist will already be entering office with a rocky relationship with the NYPD unions that have been skeptical of the incoming mayor who had to walk back a number of anti-police statements during his bid for mayor.

He also found himself in hot water when he said the CCRB should have the final say in disciplinary matters regarding cops, stripping that power from the police commissioner.

Since naming Jessica Tisch as his pick for the top cop spot, Mamdani has dodged questions about whether he still believed the commissioner should determine whether to discipline officers accused of wrongdoing.

The 15-person board votes publicly on whether to substantiate charges against officers on recommendations from CCRB investigators.

The head of the CCRB carves a path for the board publicly and politically while directing the agency of more than two hundred investigators and other staffers, but still only has one vote when it comes to disciplinary matters.

The Adams appointment is just the latest political landmine set for the mayor-elect by the outgoing administration.

Adams in October started the process of remaking the city’s Rent Guidelines Board, adding at least six real estate-friendly members in an attempt to prevent Mamdani from fulfilling his campaign promise to freeze rent for rent-stabilized apartments.

The board packing could potentially delay any freeze on rent increases by at least two years, unless the Mamdani admin successfully challenges the appointments in court.

City Hall and the Mamdani transition team did not return requests for comment.

Smith could not be reached.