New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on the 20th that the New York City Police Academy will be adding a class in July and another in October, totaling 1,200 new police officers. They will be deployed to the streets of New York City in January and April 2025. The city government hopes that by taking this action, they can effectively reduce the crime rate within the city and address the increase in shootings and murders in recent years.
This initiative is part of Adams’ commitment to strengthen public safety. According to city government data, the overall crime rate in New York City in 2024 decreased by 3% compared to the previous year, with a 20% decrease in shootings and a 23.5% decrease in murders. Furthermore, since Adams took office, the police department has confiscated over 15,500 illegal firearms from the streets. Both shootings and murders saw double-digit declines in 2023 and 2022, with decreases of 25% and 12% respectively last year, and 17% and 11% respectively in 2022.
Mayor Adams stated, “Next year, these 1,200 additional officers will hit the streets to ensure our safety.” He added that this will further solidify New York City’s public safety, making it a safer metropolis. Police Commissioner Edward Caban expressed his support for the decision, noting that the addition of these new officers will help improve law enforcement efficiency, combat crime, and provide better security for the residents.
The general public largely supports the increase in police presence, believing that it will help reduce crime rates within communities. However, some activists are calling on the government to balance the increase in law enforcement with enhanced community services to fundamentally address the issue of crime.