Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD: Police-Related Shootings Hit All Time Low
By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 10, 2010
Modified Nov 10, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 10, 2010
Modified Nov 10, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The NYPD released the 2009 "New York City Police Department Annual Firearms Discharge Report," and what it contains may thoroughly surprise you: despite all the lawsuits, police-involved shootings hit a record low last year. City police were involved in 105 shooting incidents during which 130 officers fired a total of 296 bullets, about 19% fewer than the previous year. Strangely, only 68 of those officers intentionally fired their weapons, which would leave one to the conclusion that 62 officers didn't shoot on purpose?
It was also the first year since 1971, when they started keeping detailed shooting statistics, that no officer was shot by a suspect. NYPD officers shot and killed 12 suspects in 2009, and wounded an additional 20, which is about average according to the Journal. Retired deputy inspector John Cerar is "amazed" at the numbers, but thinks that the the high profile shooting "anomalies" of Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell have helped curb unnecessary shootings: "Training happens through the newspapers sometimes. I hate to admit that but indicting officers definitely tells a story." Of course, maybe all these too-good-to-be-true numbers are also possible because some shootings have been creatively and eloquently renamed.
Tagged
crime
nypd
police
records
shootings
Stats
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
The NYPD said the investigation is continuing and no one had been arrested Saturday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Published Oct 10, 2026 at 1:24 p.m. ET
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
Remnants of Hurricane Isaias could bring more than an inch of rain, gusty winds and even a thunderstorm Sunday before conditions improve Monday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
Remnants of Hurricane Isaias could bring more than an inch of rain, gusty winds and even a thunderstorm Sunday before conditions improve Monday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Holy civics! NYC schools' own comic books in the spotlight at Comic Con
By
Jessica Gould
What we know about the ICE shooting in NYC
By
Karen Yi
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .