Police union officials say the NYPD is in a staffing crisis. 

The NYPD is understaffed by thousands, and officers are leaving by the hundreds every month, according to the NYC Police Benevolent Association, 

They say long-term solutions are needed.   

In 2023, New York City had 33,541 active police officers - that’s more than a 3.5% decrease from 10 years prior.  The PBA says that the number of officers is lower than when David Dinkins was mayor in the early 90’s, when the population was also lower.  The early salary for an officer in New York City is around $50,000 vs. $100,000 for state troopers. 

Patrick Hendry is the president of the PBA.   

“No one is becoming an NYPD police officer right now for the long term.  They’re taking it for a stepping stone to get something better – something with better salary, pensions, quality of life.  We need to keep our highly skilled, highly trained police officers right here in New York City,” Hendry told News 12. 

  The NYPD told News 12 in a statement, "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. The NYPD hired over 2,300 recruits in 2023. In January 2024 we hired an additional 669 recruits and anticipate a class of 600 in April of 2024."

  The NYPD may have hired 2,300 recruits in 2023, but records show more than 2,900 officers left that same year. 

To sweeten the deal for new recruits, legislation was recently proposed that would allow NYPD officers to collect a pension after 20 years instead of 22.  

Hendry says the deficit of police officers also creates a public safety issue.