The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is facing an unprecedented wave of resignations, leading to a continuous extension of response times after citizens report crimes. According to amNY, an average of about 300 officers retire or resign each month this year, leaving behind those officers who are bearing a heavy workload due to manpower shortages, impacting their ability to assist the public.
Based on the latest Mayor’s Management Report released last week, the average NYPD response time is now 14 minutes and 53 seconds, shortened by 90 seconds compared to the 15 minutes and 23 seconds in the fiscal year of 2024. However, looking at the data over the past five years, it’s evident that response times have significantly increased – from 11 minutes and 40 seconds in the fiscal year of 2021 to 14 minutes and 53 seconds in 2025, an additional 3 minutes and 13 seconds, representing a 27.6% increase.
The issue of response times for non-emergency cases is even more severe: it took an average of 19 minutes in 2021, and now it has increased to 28 minutes and 28 seconds, adding an extra 9 minutes. Response times for serious crimes have also extended by nearly 3 minutes.
An NYPD spokesperson noted that there has been an improvement in the average response time compared to last year, emphasizing that the department is working to address the manpower shortage through personnel training and large-scale recruitment efforts. In August, the department welcomed the largest new recruit training class since 2016, with around 1,100 individuals. So far this year, 2,911 new officers have been recruited, the highest number since 2006, and another group of new recruits is expected to join by the end of the year.
Despite these efforts, frontline officers have a different perspective. An officer who has worked for ten years in a precinct in Brooklyn, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that manpower in their department has decreased by 30% since they joined, leading to a sharp reduction in patrol resources. A decade ago, the same area would have had two patrol cars with four officers patrolling simultaneously, whereas now, it’s often down to just one car with two officers, inevitably reducing efficiency in handling cases.
The officer candidly expressed that not only are citizens waiting longer, but the police officers themselves are overworked, often sacrificing even their lunch breaks. They frequently find themselves eating in the car while rushing to a call. When citizens see a police officer having a meal in the car, they may think they are not doing anything, when in reality, they may have been working continuously for over ten hours without a break. Burnout, lack of respect, and deterioration in quality of life are reasons many officers choose to resign.
Patrick Hendry, the President of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) in New York City, pointed out that this policing crisis not only puts immense pressure on officers but also threatens the safety and security of the residents. “When a New Yorker needs help, every extra minute feels like a century. Without improving the treatment and quality of life for officers, response times will never truly shorten.”
Currently, the NYPD is continuing its recruiting efforts, but grassroots officers and the union unanimously believe that only by thoroughly addressing the issues related to work environment and compensation can they prevent more individuals from leaving, and restore the necessary police protection that the residents of New York City deserve.