Crime rates in New York City have reportedly decreased, yet the unease among its residents remains palpable, as noted by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Mayor Eric Adams. According to ABC7NY, Tisch admitted, "People don't feel safe on the subway," while Adams pointed out, "Perception always overrides reality." In an effort to address safety concerns, Tisch revealed that more than 200 officers will be deployed to patrol trains and platforms at the city's 50 highest crime stations.
Despite this push for increased law enforcement presence, subway crime — particularly felony assaults — have surged, with 51.6% more cases than in the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Even with the reported 5.4% decrease in subway crime and a general crime drop of 2.9% in 2024, the doubling of murders on the subway has left the city's denizens weary. Tisch underscored the gravity of repeat offenses contributing to felony assaults, describing it as "disheartening." She expressed the NYPD's commitment to combating crime, asserting, "New Yorkers demand and deserve better," as told by ABC7NY.
In a similar vein, former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton emphasized the need for a bolstered police force, highlighting the current inadequate number of officers compared to the 38,000 available during his first tenure in the 1990s. In an interview with 770 WABC radio’s "The Cats Roundtable" program, Bratton cautioned, "They’ve attempted to deal with that … by overtime, by surging," arguing that such measures are not sustainable solutions. In reference to National Guard soldiers stationed in subways by Governor Kathy Hochul, Bratton dismissively labeled them as "uniformed mannequins" with no real authority, as detailed by The New York Post.
Looking ahead, the NYPD plans to strengthen its numbers, aiming to bring the total force to 35,000 officers in the coming years. This announcement was confirmed by a City Hall representative, who stated that Mayor Adams's top priority is increasing officer headcount. Supporting this endeavor, Tisch announced that in addition to the immediate deployment of 624 officers, a new class of approximately 1,000 recruits will be entering the police academy later this month. As per The New York Post, the NYPD currently boasts 33,745 uniformed officers.
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