NYPD Experiencing a Mass Departure

NYPD Experiencing a Mass Departure

According to reports, over 1,500 NYPD officers have left the field, through resignation and retirement, as of May 31st, 2022. Pension stats from the NYPD show 1,072 officers have retired while 524 have resigned.

The past 2 years have seen a mass exodus from the NYPD with 1,159 officers leaving in 2021 and 1,092 officers leaving in 2020. A former NYPD officer cited “anti-cop hostility, bail reform, and rising crime” as reasons for a rise in frustration amongst colleagues that resulted in many departing from the police department.

Another former police officer said that over time, the job got worse and worse. “The last few years, so many people had been leaving and manpower was so low that you’d go to work and you’d answer 25 to 30 jobs a day and you’re burnt out by the end of the day.

There was no time for law enforcement. [It was just] radio run, radio run, radio run all day long.” He cited bail reform as one of the reasons the city is out of control. He said after making an arrest, the perpetrator would be “back in the precinct picking up their property the same day.”

He said members of the community would ask him why the crime wasn’t getting better and he would explain that anyone they locked up for a night would be back out the next day committing crimes. He would apologize and tell them he wishes there was more he could do.

More insights on NYPD Mass Departure…

In 2019, there were 36,900 officers in the NYPD. In 2022, the roster is now 34,687. Patrick Lynch, President of the Police Benevolent Association Patrolman Union, said, “The NYPD is sliding deeper into a staffing crisis that will ultimately hurt public safety. Low pay, inferior benefits, and constant abuse from the City Council and other anti-cop demagogues has pushed attrition to record highs.” Lynch also mentioned the struggle to enroll in new Academy classes in the NYPD.

According to police reports, the NYPD was anticipating a new class of 1,009 officers to join the force in December 2021 but only saw 675 in the graduating class. John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor, and former sergeant for the NYPD, Joseph Giacalone said it would take nearly 20 years to solve the issue and fix the current mess. “The city is bleeding blue and only the cop haters will be celebrating… There’s no way to stop it. Activists, abolitionists, and their pandering politicians have done so much damage to the profession, that it will take a generation to fix, if at all.”

In regards to public safety, Lynch said, “We need more cops working more hours to turn the tide of violence, but there is only so much overtime they can squeeze out of the cops who remain.”

Data taken from the NYPD pension fund shows a steep increase in retirements and resignations of the police force beginning in 2018.