The New York Police Department
Since its inception in 1845, the NYPD has worked to keep the streets of New York City free from danger.
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The force grew alongside the city. However, in recent years, it appears the NYPD is struggling to obtain a sufficient number of new recruits. Officials are now beginning to worry as the police force continues to struggle to replenish its numbers year after year.
Numbers Continue to Dwindle at NYPD
According to stats sourced from the NYPD, the department currently has around 33,695 active police officers, which is around 154 more than it had during the previous year.
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This is the lowest headcount since the 32,451 recorded in 1990, yet the city of New York has seen significant population growth since then, suggesting the force may soon become overwhelmed if numbers do not increase.
NYPD Struggling to Keep Up With Retirements
According to The New York Post, retirement, which has surged by around 11% this year, has only further exacerbated the problem.
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Data sourced from the NYPD reveals that 556 officers decided to turn in their badges or enter retirement during the first four months of the year, an increase from 508 during the same period in 2023.
Officers Continue to Leave the Department
In total, more than 820 NYPD officers have already left the force in 2024. Of this number, over 250 handed in their badge before reaching the minimum 20 years of service that would allow them to claim a full pension.
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On a single day in May, 27 officers resigned. According to the sources, “most” are accepting jobs at the Nassau Police Department, which issues much better pay.
Something’s Got to Give, Says Union
The dwindling number of officers at the NYPD has worried city officials and the police union, the latter of which claims something’s got to give.
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“New York City police officers’ workload has exploded over the past several months, and the staffing is still nowhere close to keeping up,” said Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry.
NYPD Officers Are Exhausted
Hendy went on to explain that many NYPD officers are overworked and exhausted from covering shifts and ensuring that enough officers are on call during busy periods.
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“From the daily protest details to additional patrols in the subway, our members are beyond exhausted already – and summertime crime spikes are just around the corner. Squeezing cops for even more overtime hours is not a solution. It will just send even more of them running for the exits.”
Union Wants to Implement a Better Schedule
Beginning in October of last year, the NYPD responded to an astounding 2,400 protests over a seven-month period, an average of more than ten each day. Unfortunately, many officers are held past their shifts to deal with such events.
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However, the police union is working to implement a new flexible schedule that would see NYPD officers work longer hours but have more days off.
Anonymous Source Speaks on Why He Left the Force
An anonymous police officer who formerly worked for the NYPD explained why he decided to leave the New York branch after serving for over 20 years.
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According to him, he was fed up with working long hours, the anti-cop rhetoric in the city, and bail reform laws, which ultimately stood in the way of him doing the job he had loved for decades.
Former Officer Shares Thoughts on Recruitment Problem
Speaking with the NY Post, 42-year-old retired officer John, who was once assigned to the Bronx, shared his thoughts on the reason so many people are leaving the force.
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“When I first got on the job there was a certain level of respect for the police officer. Regarding no bail, these guys know they can punch a cop and be let out the next day. There are no consequences. So, a lot of cops are like, ‘What the hell are we doing?”” said John.
Retirement Was a Weight Off Shoulders, Says NYPD Officer
John, a married father with three children, claims he was constantly working on his days off and was often commanded to keep the peace at protests and deal with subway crime. Retiring was “like somebody lifted an elephant and took it off [my shoulders],” he said.
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“If you go to any of the outer counties, particularly in Westchester or Long Island, those guys are making a tremendous amount of money for maybe half the work that our guys do.”
New York City Works to Increase NYPD Numbers
City officials are working hard to ensure the NYPD gets the extra officers it desperately needs. According to Mayor Eric Adams, two NYPD academy classes will resume this month, which should increase the ranks by around 1,200.
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Residents were angered when the Adams administration called off five classes as part of a budget cut to offset the cost of migrants entering the city. The crisis will cost the city a further $10 billion this year.