Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD To Have "Lowest Head Count In Memory"
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 19, 2009
Modified Jul 19, 2009
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
Jen Chung
Published Jul 19, 2009
Modified Jul 19, 2009
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
With the budget hurting, the NY Times reports on how the police force "[hurtles] toward its lowest head count in memory: The New York City Police Department is set to shrink to 34,304 officers within a year, which is 16 percent fewer than the department’s high of 41,000 nearly a decade ago." (However, a graph suggests the number of cops has been in the mid 30,000 range for the past few years.) There are tense meetings on staffing police officers in certain neighborhoods, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has to okay every promotion or transfer, there are fewer recruits and civilian employees are being laid off. And, in spite all of this,"there have been no obvious outward signs of problems." But the NYPD is using "predictive policing," which is using "crime statistics and other information to forecast where crime may pop up next," a lot more these days. One deputy commissioner explained, "It puts pressure on the need to be as precise as you can be, because you want to make the very best use of the limited resources you have." According to the latest crime stats available (PDF), 2009 crime is down 11% vs. 2008 and down 13.67% vs. 2007 for the year thus far.
Tagged
budget
crime
economy
nypd
police force
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Retired NYPD detective charged with murder in George Washington Bridge shooting
Police say a Rockland County man was fatally shot during what appeared to be a road rage incident on Tuesday night.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 21, 2026 at 4:26 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 21, 2026 at 5:43 p.m. ET
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
Officer Wayne Isaacs will go on trial in January on a charge that he used improper force when he shot and killed Delrawn Small in East New York in July 2016.
By
Ben Feuerherd
News
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
Officer Wayne Isaacs will go on trial in January on a charge that he used improper force when he shot and killed Delrawn Small in East New York in July 2016.
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYC adult daycare operators charged with committing over $500K in Medicaid fraud
By
Caroline Lewis
Port Authority eyes $117M fix to Manhattan roadway where falling debris smashed cars
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Bronx couple starved their 3-year-old to death, indictment says
By
Catalina Gonella
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 .