The New York Police Department (NYPD) is facing a significant “hiring crisis,” not because of financial constraints, but due to a shortage of applicants, Commissioner Jessica Tisch explained during a budget hearing before the New York City Council on Tuesday.
Tisch attributed the difficulty in recruitment to the growth of the “defund and anti-police movements” in recent years. This shift in public sentiment has led to a decline in the number of uniformed officers in the NYPD, with the force shrinking from 37,000 officers in 2018 to 33,000 today.
“A lot of the rhetoric aimed at our police is vile, and the pendulum has swung too far away from what I consider to be the most important and noble job that anyone could do, and we must swing it back,” Tisch stated.
Although Mayor Eric Adams has approved every class the NYPD has requested, Tisch noted that the negative public perception surrounding the profession is deterring potential recruits.
“It was not that long ago when people would wait years to get the call to join the academy and every incoming class was at capacity,” Tisch observed. “Now, we are practically begging people to take the exam.”
In response to the declining numbers of recruits, Tisch has decided to lower the requirement for college credits needed to become a police officer from 60 to 24, provided the applicant has not completed two years of active military service.
During her speech, Tisch emphasized that the core mission of NYPD officers is to ensure the safety of New Yorkers, and they will adhere to the laws established by the city government.
“We are not going to engage in civil immigration enforcement period,” she affirmed. “That means that despite our objections to the How Many Stops Act, we will meet its requirements.”
The How Many Stops Act, which was passed in December 2023 despite opposition from Mayor Adams and the Police Benevolence Association, mandates that officers document all street stops related to investigations. Tisch also addressed another bill that would prohibit the department’s criminal group database, acknowledging public concern that the City Council is legislating against the NYPD. She urged members of the council to consider a more cooperative approach to reform.
“That database is a critical intelligence tool that helps the NYPD save lives,” she explained. “If you want to work with us to improve the database, by all means, let’s craft a bill together.”
This address comes just days after former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is a leading contender in the crowded Democratic primary for New York City Mayor, revealed his plan to hire an additional 5,000 police officers if he wins.
Cuomo argued that the financial costs of such a plan would be offset by savings from reduced overtime expenses, although he did not acknowledge the recruitment challenges Tisch highlighted during her testimony.
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