The New York Police Department (NYPD) is continuing to grapple with a significant surge in officer resignations, putting the force at risk of being severely understaffed.
The departure of experienced officers before retirement has also raised concerns over the city’s safety and stability.
According to data obtained by The Post, a staggering 648 officers have quit the NYPD before reaching retirement as of June 30 this year. This represents a 22 percent increase compared to the previous year’s resignations, where 530 officers left, and a striking 87% rise from 2020 when 347 officers resigned. The alarming trend has left the 34,000-strong uniformed officers’ roster at least 1,200 short, as reported by the city’s police union.
The reasons behind the “voluntary quits” are manifold, with officers citing a multitude of challenges.
According to Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry, “forced” overtime has become the norm, which has pushed many officers to their limits. The burden of increased enforcement coupled with mounting pressure from police oversight organizations has taken an additional toll on the career outlook of rank-and-file officers.
“Cops are being squeezed from every direction. They are working inhumane amounts of forced overtime. The brass is pushing for more enforcement, while the police-oversight complex is pushing to ruin more cops’ careers,” Hendry stated.
Hendry, who oversees the PBA’s 21,000 officers, also called attention to the risk-reward aspect of the job.
“Many cops can’t afford to keep taking that risk because the pay is still too low,” he continued. “The NYPD will not be able to recruit its way out of this staffing emergency. It needs to make the job liveable for the cops it already has.”
Compounding the issue is the difficulty in recruiting new officers to fill the widening gaps. The exodus of officers began after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, leading to nationwide protests and calls to defund the police. Hostility toward law enforcement, coupled with bail reform and rising crime rates, has left many NYPD officers feeling increasingly frustrated.
The recent wave of resignations has also been exacerbated by actions taken by the city council and police watchdogs.
The council’s proposed legislation, which mandates extensive reporting on even minor police encounters with New Yorkers and quicker submission of body-camera footage, has faced backlash from the police community. Officers have expressed concerns about the increased paperwork, which could further strain relations with the public and deter cooperation in critical situations.
Public advocate Jumaane Williams has been criticized for supporting the restrictive measures on police while enjoying NYPD security and residing on a secure federal army base in Brooklyn. This disconnect between legislative actions and on-the-ground realities has added to officers’ disillusionment.
“Jumaane Williams lives in an ivory tower behind locked gates and fences, while he advocates for less cops to work in the communities that need them the most,” retired NYPD sergeant and criminal justice professor Joseph Giacalone said.
The NYPD, while acknowledging the recruitment challenges, asserted that they have hired over 1,400 individuals in 2023 so far and more than 2,000 in 2022.
“While recent events outside of the department continue to present challenges to recruitment efforts, we continue to focus on the positive results that happen when someone joins this organization. Year to date 2023, we have hired more than 1,400 individuals in addition to the approximately 2,000 individuals we hired in 2022,” the NYPD stated.
However, the departure of experienced officers remains a significant concern for the department, as the loss of their expertise and skills could hamper the city’s safety efforts.
The situation has also sparked debate over the root causes of the exodus, with union representatives arguing for better compensation and improved working conditions for current officers.
