The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is experiencing a significant wave of resignations, with 245 officers departing in the month of October. This represents a 35% increase in resignations compared to the same period in the previous year, according to data from the Police Pension Fund. The increase comes as Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor, prepares to take office. Mamdani, at 34, is the youngest mayor in New York City's history, winning the election with a campaign centered on housing affordability and a robust social media strategy that mobilized young voters.
"Every single month, we’re losing enough cops to staff an entire precinct," said PBA President Patrick Hendry, highlighting the severity of the NYPD's staffing challenges.
Despite Mamdani's recent efforts to moderate his previously critical stance on law enforcement, concerns among police unions regarding his proposed policies persist. Scott Munro, president of the Detectives Endowment Association, voiced concerns to the NY Post about the morale within the department, attributing the unease to Mamdani's vision for the city's law enforcement. Patrick Hendry, President of the Police Benevolent Association, echoed this sentiment in remarks to the New York Times, attributing the exodus to unsustainable workloads, an expired contract, and perceived lack of support.
In response to the surge in resignations, the NYPD has intensified its recruitment campaigns. A spokesperson for the department expressed confidence in attracting a new generation of officers, highlighting the induction of 1,093 new recruits, the largest class since January 2016. The NYPD has hired 2,911 recruits this year and is on track for its highest annual hiring in its history. Over the past four years, close to 10,000 new officers have joined the NYPD.
Mamdani has tried to reconcile with law enforcement, retracting his past statements that labeled the NYPD as "racist and anti-queer" and expressing no intention to defund the police. However, his proposed shift of disciplinary authority from the police commissioner to the Civilian Complaint Review Board has sparked further controversy.
The resignation of Deputy Chief John D’Adamo, a high-profile officer, has drawn attention, although it has been attributed to retirement rather than political reasons. Speculation about Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s future with the NYPD is also contributing to concerns about morale and retention among the ranks.
Despite the increase in resignations, the NYPD has managed to maintain its overall staffing levels, currently employing 33,745 uniformed officers. This figure is marginally lower than the 33,812 officers reported in 2024 but significantly fewer than the peak in 2000, which saw a force of 40,285.
As Mamdani takes office, the NYPD confronts a pivotal moment, balancing the challenge of bolstering officer morale and retention with ensuring public safety in America's largest city.
