I'm not especially familiar with NYC issues but I assume we don't yet fully know what changes will occur due to the first Democrat to be NYC mayor in 20 years. Especially with so much controversy right now to give him leverage I hope that de Blasio will try to make some changes (and in the right direction). And then I guess we'll find out whether civilian control of the NYPD is or is not only the case when there's a conservative in office with whose policy choices police would likely agree.

In other places and situations we would need to discuss what we mean by "liberal". There are lots of politicians who aren't really liberals, they just play one on TV. Or they are liberal on some issues while being in the "law and order" camp on policies of policing. So we would need to distinguish between having a politician in control who is liberal on policing issues and one who is conservative on policing but liberal on some other things. Also would have to allow for politicians who are liars (most of them).