In a recent administrative push to reinforce police presence on the streets, New NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch took action against improper transfers within the department. An internal audit revealed over 500 officers had been reassigned without proper documentation, a practice known colloquially as 'telephone message transfers', as reported by Gothamist.
Correcting this, Tisch set last Friday, December 13, a deadline for said officers to return to their original posts and banned the informal transfer system, which has been blamed for increased emergency response times, the memo outlined steps to streamline operations amid staffing challenges—with the department's personnel data indicating the current uniformed headcount is the lowest it's been since 1990, just under 33,400 officers.
Corroborating Tisch's actions, Mayor Eric Adams, in a separate move highlighted by Police1, ordered a review of all NYPD units with the intention of reassigning officers from non-enforcement 'inside' assignments to regular patrols. Citing that cops are "masters at hiding out somewhere," Adams directed Tisch to ensure better utilization of police personnel, especially those in administrative roles.
This directive seems to pivot away from previous reliance on overtime to address staffing shortages as the Mayor's Management Report notes police response times to crimes in progress calls rose to more than 15 minutes, the directive also addresses a significant portion of the department's top overtime earners are presently in administrative posts. These measures reflect a consolidated effort by city management and the NYPD to make effective adjustments in response to public safety concerns and response efficiency.
However, these actions have stirred up response from those within the police force. Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, told Police1 that “Cops aren’t ‘hiding out’ — they are burned out. We’re almost 7,000 police officers short of our peak staffing,” pointing out the force's lack of numbers and high attrition rate. He emphasizes the need for the city to invest in attracting and retaining officers rather than reprimanding them.
Meanwhile, public safety experts consider Tisch's hands-on management style as a strong step towards reclaiming order within the NYPD and optimizing the force for the challenges of modern urban policing.
