Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced a major expansion of the NYPD's Quality of Life Division throughout Queens. The Quality of Life teams, also known as Q-Teams, have been active in tackling issues directly impacting the daily lives of residents, such as illegal mopeds, abandoned vehicles, and noise complaints, as reported by the NYC Mayor's Office.
The pilot program for the Q-Teams began in April and has shown significant improvements in the city's non-emergency response rates, reducing average times by about 47 minutes. Since the inception of the program, and to date, more than 31,500 calls have been responded to, and the initiative has expanded citywide, with Staten Island and housing commands set to see deployment by late August. The campaign, dubbed "End Culture of Anything Goes," is part of Mayor Adams' effort to reimagine public safety and community well-being, which aims to provide comprehensive support, including outreach and housing solutions, for individuals with severe mental illness, according to the NYC Mayor's Office.
In a statement obtained by the NYC Mayor's Office, Mayor Adams emphasized the importance of a secure environment for all residents, stating, "We are doing everything we can to ensure that New York City remains the safest big city in America and the best place to raise a family." Similarly, Commissioner Tisch highlighted the Q-Teams' achievements in addressing community degradation and restoring a sense of order.
Comprehensive statistics showcase the scope of the Q-Teams’ work with the seizure of hundreds of illegal vehicles and the response to thousands of community calls. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz welcomed the expansion, acknowledging the public's concerns over unlicensed businesses, and the accumulation of abandoned vehicles, and illegal scooters. By focusing on such local issues, the initiative aims to improve public safety and affirm the city's commitment to equality across all boroughs.
The NYPD also conducts monthly Q-Stat meetings to analyze related data from precincts and public service, a practice modeled after the department's crime data tracker "CompStat," which supports a data-driven approach to managing quality-of-life concerns across the city. New Yorkers access these services through the 311 system, which enables them to report non-emergency issues or access information about city programs, as per the NYC Mayor's Office report.
