Under Mayor Bloomberg's proposed city budget, the number of NYPD officers on the streets would fall to its lowest point in 20 years. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that if the Mayor's $46.5 billion budget is approved, the force would lose 892 officers due to attrition while welcoming aboard just 112 recruits—making the NYPD as small as it's been since 1990. With just 32,817 officers, Kelly told the Daily News the cuts would be felt. Because there will be so few rookie cops, the cuts might have a big effect on "Operation Impact"—a policing strategy that puts a large number of new officers in high-crime areas.
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2025. Donate today