Reduced Cop Classes Will Cut Force to 34,000 Soon; Would Be Lowest Since Mid-'90s

If Mayor Bloomberg's proposed budget cuts take hold, the Police Department's headcount will drop to just above 34,000 by 2010 compared to an authorized maximum of 37,838 earlier this year and a high of 41,000 in 2001.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow CRIME WAR VS. WAR OF ATTRITION: Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly tries to downplay the impact of a continuing drop in uniformed cops, telling a City Council hearing that the NYPD has continued to reduce crime despite being roughly 5,000 officers below its headcount of eight years ago, but he admitted that the more officers he loses, the tougher the task becomes.

The proposed 2009 budget decreases the headcount more than 1,000 officers, to 34,878, by cancelling a scheduled Police Academy class in January. The original budget planned to keep the headcount constant from 2009 to 2010, but the Mayor's November plan would cut another 661 officers for a total savings of $81 million by the end of 2010.

Councilman Peter F. Vallone Jr. warned the NYPD will soon reach a 15-year low of 33,325 officers. However, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly told the City Council Nov. 24 the peak headcount would return to 37,878 by 2013.

PETER VALLONE JR.: Fears return to high-crime days.

 

 

 

'Can Do More With More'

"I don't want these cuts to go forward," said Mr. Kelly at the City Council budget hearing. "We can do a more effective job the more officers we have. There is no question about it."

The current headcount of about 35,770 is 5,000 fewer officers than were in the department in early 2001, and Mr. Kelly said it was the lowest during his tenure.

"I prefer that it did not happen, no question about it, but we're in the economic crisis of a lifetime, we're told, so this is the hand we are dealt and we're going to do everything we can to continue to protect this city as has been done for the last seven years," he said. He noted that crime decreased 28 percent in that time, and last year the city registered the fewest murders since official records began being kept 45 years ago.

The proposed January Police Academy class of 1,067 recruits that was canceled as part of a budget reduction would save the city $36.1 million, but now the following classes have been shrunk as well. The July 2009 class and one in January 2010 were each expected to swell to 2,000 recruits, according to Mayor Bloomberg's Nov. 5 budget plan, to compensate for the canceled class. Since then, however, the two classes have been decreased to between 500 and 700 recruits each, Mr. Kelly said outside the Council Chambers.

PATRICK J. LYNCH: City hurts itself by cutting force.

Paul J. Browne, the NYPD's chief spokesman, said the discrepancy came from the department looking at different numbers than the Mayor's Office. He said the department projects a decrease in attrition, but the next police class would be comprised of however many recruits it takes to reach 35,770 officers.

Lost 2,000 to Attrition

The staffing level of the NYPD will continue to drop solely through attrition rather than layoffs. Mr. Kelly said Police Officers tend to retire after 20 years at a rate of 80 percent, while 65 percent of those in the ranks of Sergeant and above retire at that point of service. Last year, the department lost 2,000 officers to attrition, which includes cops taking jobs in higher-paying jurisdictions. Mr. Kelly said the department plans to lose 1,500 more officers this fiscal year.

Before the hearing, Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick J. Lynch blasted Mr. Bloomberg in a statement that was noticeably harsher than his comments when the Mayor announced the cuts. "Reducing the size of the NYPD at a time when the city is struggling to increase its revenue stream makes absolutely no sense," he said. "It is universally recognized that safe streets is the most important element to stimulating our economy and reducing the NYPD puts safety at risk. Public safety is the most important investment the city can make during these difficult times."

His previous statement said the city should get "the best value for its dollar" and called the NYPD "a smart investment," but did not address the next police class.

Fewer But Better-Paid

The continued drop in police officers comes at a time when salaries have been significantly upgraded. Police Officers received a 20-percent compensation hike in August — just three months after an arbitration panel granted 10-percent raises under a previous contract. Starting pay will be $41,975 by next Aug. 1. The recent labor agreements are factored into the new budget, but the city hopes to save money by reducing the amount paid in overtime and delaying capital projects. The proposed $1 billion new Police Academy lost $258 million in funding until 2013, and there were cuts in funding for construction projects in the 40th, 66th and 70th Precincts.

Commissioner Kelly told the Council that more police officers will do civilian work because the number of non-uniformed NYPD employees will be reduced by 292 positions in 2009 and 361 jobs in 2010, in addition to previously planned budget reductions of 600 jobs each year. "There is going to come a time when clerical work will have to be done by uniformed officers," he said. "That's the reality. The work has to get done." The cuts will come through attrition, Mr. Kelly said.

Commissioner Kelly said no determination had been made on the fate of Operation Impact, a successful program that places new Police Officers in high-crime areas. "That's something we'll determine as we get there. Right now our plan is to put all officers who graduate in December into Impact," he said.

At the budget hearing, Mr. Kelly fielded a barrage of questions from City Council Members who took exception to the cuts in the NYPD, especially Mr. Vallone, who stated, "Essentially, they are taking out a loan of officers that they owe to us, and are using our public safety as collateral. They have set up a payment plan to get those officers back to us, but if things go from bad to worse, I have a feeling they are going to default."