Police retirements are reaching unprecedented levels, and union officials are concerned that the trend will worsen if anti-police Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the election.
As of Monday, a total of 1,555 NYPD officers filed retirement papers, marking a 48% increase compared to the 1,049 who left last year and a staggering 65% rise from just 941 a decade ago, based on NYPD data shared by the Police Charity Association.
Union leaders are alarmed, noting they have never seen such high retirements in the first half of the year. They fear that Mamdani’s policies could have dire consequences for both recruitment and retention within the NYPD.
“We can’t have a mayor who disregards our issues or rolls back progress,” said PBA president Patrick Hendry. “We really need someone who stands up for police officers and treats us with the respect we deserve.”
The PBA has yet to endorse any candidates in this year’s race.
A Queens police officer, who plans to retire soon, mentioned that Mamdani’s self-described democratic socialist stance may be driving some officers away.
“The Democratic candidates seem quite anti-cop,” the officer remarked, drawing on over two decades of experience. “His extreme views create anxiety among officers, pushing them to leave.”
Officers feel particularly disheartened by Mamdani’s strong criticism of the police, including his suggestion for a refund of NYPD funds.
He has labeled the NYPD as “evil and corrupt” and has even called for the department’s dismantlement.
“He hasn’t even interacted with us, yet he claims we’re biased,” the officer noted, reflecting on the discomfort this causes within law enforcement. “There’s a real lack of communication.”
Many officers who joined the NYPD following the September 11 attacks believe that Mamdani’s victory in the June 24 primary is likely to compel them to leave.
“Winning the primary made me absolutely certain this was the right choice for me,” one officer said, echoing sentiments from the heightened anti-cop sentiment witnessed during the protests following George Floyd’s death.
“We felt abandoned by politicians during those chaotic times,” he added, emphasizing the need for supportive leadership. “What we really need is a leader who isn’t filled with anti-police rhetoric.”
The NYPD’s largest incoming class was in 2005, with about 3,600 new recruits, a memory now overshadowed by current staffing concerns, as stated by NYPD spokeswoman Delaney Kempner.
“It’s well-known that we are experiencing a staffing crisis, and tackling recruitment and retention is crucial,” the department officially stated.
To attract more candidates, the NYPD has reduced the educational requirements for becoming an officer, and retirement incentives are leading to even more departures this year.
Recently, many officers have been capitalizing on overtime opportunities, especially as NYPD commissioner Jessica Tish has focused on tackling subway crime, deploying extra personnel underground to bolster public safety.
City Hall and Albany are working to address this staffing crisis with new academy classes that have reportedly brought in about 1,700 officers this year, according to the PBA.
“It’s clear that nearly everyone from the PBA to City Hall recognizes the seriousness of the situation,” Hendry remarked.
Retirements aren’t just affecting the PBA; according to DEA President Scott Munroe, the Detective Fund Association has also seen a rise in retirements this year.
As of July 1, 606 detectives have retired, compared to 455 for the entire previous year.
The number of detectives has sharply declined from 7,000 in 2001 to 4,716 today.
“If Mamdani takes office, I foresee a mass exodus of officers,” Munro predicted. “He doesn’t seem to support law enforcement.”
Lt. Col. Lou Turco pointed out that some of Mamdani’s comments have affected morale among veteran officers.
“We’re grappling with recruitment and retention now,” Turco added. “And when you survey the changing landscape, you can’t help but ask yourself, ‘What am I still doing here?’”
