NYPD in Crisis

Mismanagement in a huge bureaucracy? Color me shocked. NYPD struggles impact all aspects of police life for its officers

The post interviewed a bunch of cops, from patrol officers, to detectives, and sergeants, or whatever. The picture that emerged was pretty terrible.

While anti-police sentiment, criminal justice reforms and progressive politicians are frequent explanations for the crisis given by police unions and NYPD brass, the officers interviewed for this story say their primary issues with the job come from within.

Those problems stem from mismanagement and nepotism throughout the department, being held to unrealistic expectations, answering to a revolving door of out-of-touch chiefs and working among a force that’s turned its back on itself.

NYPD is basically providing round-the-clock security for a rapper who has been shot 3 times. They don't want him to be shot again. Really?

At a busy Brooklyn precinct, sergeants are responding to 911 calls because half of the officers on duty for each tour are assigned to fixed posts – including one in front of the home of a drill rapper and alleged gang member to ensure he isn’t shot again.

“He’s almost got like private security on his house. We’ve been sitting outside of his house for almost a year. … But, meanwhile, if you call 911, you have to wait for 45 minutes,” said William, a cop who works at the precinct.

And the situation is going to get worse before it gets better.

As of Sept. 30, 1,628 officers have retired and another 1,426 quit, the most resignations seen since the post-Sept. 11 exodus in 2002 — and more than 2019 and 2020 combined.

And recruiting isn't filling that gap. Even people who pass the entrance exam are not signing up for the academy.

There is a lot more, including a lot more on a dysfunctional bureaucracy, including promotion based on favors and who your father knew.