The New York City Police Department reportedly lost more officers last year than in the previous two decades, yet leadership refuses to accept the escalating issue, according to the city’s senior police union head.
“The NYPD is playing a dangerous game by refusing to acknowledge and address its recruitment and retention crisis. New Yorkers are demanding more police presence in their neighborhoods and on the subway, but we just don’t have the staffing to provide it consistently.” New York City Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said in a recent interview with Fox News.
According to data from the NYC Police Pension Fund, 1,955 members of the department retired in 2022 and another 1,746 quit, for a total of 3,701 leaving the ranks last year alone.
According to figures issued by the PBA last month, the department needs at least 1,200 new recruits to meet its planned headcount and 2,500 new recruits to return to 2019 staffing levels.
However the department only received 543 applications, far short of what it needed to maintain adequate staffing.
The department lost an average of 2,112 personnel between 2010 and 2019, implying a 75% rise in retirements or resignations in 2022 compared to the pre-pandemic decade average.
“Many talented, dedicated recruits don’t want to raise their hand for the NYPD because they’ll be paid better and treated better at almost any other police department. New York City needs to make a major investment in paying and treating its police officers like professionals. It can’t afford not to.” Lynch continued.
Departments around the country are experiencing similar challenges, particularly in big cities that lean liberal.
Because of a police officer shortage, New Orleans was compelled to bring in officers from throughout the state to assist with future Mardi Gras parades and events.
The city of Philadelphia expects to lose more policemen this year than it intends to recruit.
In many parts of the country, crime has skyrocketed. Murders surged by about 30% in 2020 compared to the previous year, the biggest single-year increase since the FBI began collecting such crimes.
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