Record numbers of New York City Department (NYPD) police officers have handed in their badges, raising concerns that residents of the nation’s largest city could see already sky-high crime rates spiral further out of control.
A total of 2,516 officers have resigned from the department in 2023, according to police pension data obtained by The Epoch Times. It is the fourth largest number in the past decade and 43 percent more than the 1,750 who resigned their positions in 2018. Further, the data show that the number of cops quitting before they reach the 20 years required to receive their full pensions increased by 104 percent since 2020.
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry told The Epoch Times in a statement that the recent exodus comes on top of years of officer attrition, eroding the ability of the nation’s largest police force to protect and serve to dangerous levels.
“This is truly a disaster for every New Yorker who cares about safe streets. Cops are already stretched to our breaking point, and these cuts will return us to staffing levels we haven’t seen since the crime epidemic of the ‘80s and ‘90s,” said Mr. Hendry.
The city also plans to cancel the next five Police Academy classes, further decreasing New York’s police force, sources told The Epoch Times.
The recent rash of resignations has had a snowball effect, with fewer available officers resulting in more mandatory overtime required of those who remain to perform basic services. In turn, the increased workload has led to larger numbers of officers leaving the force, according to Mr. Hendry.
“New York City police officers are already working inhumane amounts of forced overtime,” said Mr. Hendry. “The workload is a leading factor driving people away from the job.”
“If the NYPD is going to survive these staffing reductions, it cannot just keep squeezing cops for more hours,” he added.
Departments across the nation are confronting staffing shortages. Many state and local governments have reached crisis levels as police forces continue to hemorrhage officers, while at the same time failing to recruit enough new ones to replace those leaving their badges behind.
In August, the entirety of the Goodhue Police Department in Minnesota resigned over their $22-an-hour salary. Last month dozens of State Police trainees dropped out of the Massachusetts State Police Training Academy weeks into training, citing a lack of interest, according to a report.
Other agencies across the country, including in Seattle, Washington, Dallas, and Portland, Oregon, were all reportedly down hundreds of officers, putting further strain on the existing staff.
Officer morale also appears to be an outsized factor in why demand for the job has appeared to decreased. Since George Floyd’s death in 2020, the role of America’s criminal justice system and the police officers who serve on the front lines have been catapulted to the forefront of national conversation. During that time, the job of police officer has morphed from one that was traditionally praised to being viewed with distrust and animosity, with many prominent political and social leaders having openly called for the defunding and dismantling of law enforcement.
“They aren’t concerned with security and safety, they are concerned about their next election,” said Mr. Kerik.
Mr. Hendry, whose union represents the NYPD, says that if a solution isn’t found, and soon, citizens are at risk of seeing the crime situation go from bad – to worse.
“We cannot go back there,” said Mr. Hendry. “We need every level of government to work together to find a way to support police officers and protect New York City’s thirty years of public safety progress.”
