As Eric Adams prepares to step in as mayor, it seems there’s fresh evidence that Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch is making strides at the NYPD.
After a period of downsizing, the department is now on track to bring in new officers at a pace that surpasses retirements, particularly with crime rates climbing.
While public safety hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, which were last seen in 2019 before state reforms took their toll, some encouraging trends are emerging.
Recent statistics from the NYPD for October reveal a significant drop in citywide shootings compared to past records. Subway crime is also seeing a decrease.
“We’re not just breaking records; we’re going to crush it,” Tisch told new recruits during a recent swearing-in event.
From January through October, data shows there were 744 gunshot victims across 596 incidents in the five boroughs. This surpasses the 2018 benchmark, with 641 incidents and 768 people shot that year.
This year, homicides have reached 18, tying the record from 2018 and falling short of the 35 reported during the same timeframe last year.
Traffic-related crimes have hit an all-time low for October, matching the minimal 154 felonies seen back in 2020, when ridership was nearly nonexistent.
So far, there’s only one murder case connected to the subway this year. In October, Italian immigrant Nicola Tanzi tragically lost his life after an unprovoked attack. It’s a hope that we can return to the days when subway murders were practically nonexistent.
On Monday, Tisch inducted about 650 new officers, marking the fourth class this year. She described it as what she believes is the “highest-paying hire” in the past four decades. The nearly 1,000 cadets who graduated in August were the largest cohort since 2016.
However, there’s a critical detail to consider: the Police Benevolent Association has noted that 1,642 officers have resigned or opted for retirement since April. The prospects for Mamdani’s mayoral bid do not instill much confidence for the future.
Adams’ new strategy aims to boost the NYPD’s personnel from nearly 34,000 to 40,000 by 2029, but it’s a plan that could be easily discarded by the next mayor.
It feels unlikely that Mr. Mamdani would allow Mr. Tisch to continue in her role as Commissioner. Honestly, if he proves us wrong, it would be a pleasant surprise—though that might be the smartest move if he wants a second term.
Adams and Tisch have shown that the NYPD has the potential to restore the city’s traditional level of safety.
New Yorkers will surely keep these developments in mind as a new administration steps in.
