In New York City, response times by police officers to 911 calls about ongoing crimes have reached their highest level since the 1990s, as the city’s dwindling NYPD force struggles to keep up with demands. According to the annual Mayor’s Management Report released on Monday, officers took an average of 15 minutes and 23 seconds to respond to such calls in fiscal year (FY) 2024, which is almost a minute longer than the previous fiscal year and nearly five minutes more than four years ago.
In FY 2023, police officers responded to 911 calls reporting “critical” crimes like shootings, robberies, or burglaries in an average of 9 minutes and 24 seconds. However, this did not make up for the overall increase in response times. The slowdowns are likely due to a combination of factors such as reduced police staffing levels since the 1990s, an increase in traffic congestion making it more difficult for officers to navigate the city quickly, and an overall rise in emergency calls that require law enforcement attention.
Deputy Public Safety Commissioner Phil Banks, who often attends press conferences on such issues, was notably absent from Monday’s media scrum about the mayor’s report. Banks and two of his siblings are currently being investigated by federal authorities as part of a wide-ranging probe into potential City Hall corruption. None of the three has been arrested or charged in connection with the investigation.
Assistant Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker, who attended Monday’s briefing on the mayor’s report, said that the NYPD is “focusing relentlessly” on improving response times but did not provide specific details about what measures are being taken to address this issue. He emphasized that officials would continue to explore innovative and evidence-based strategies to drive down response times.
The prolonged response times come as the NYPD has fewer members than at any time since 1990, according to the police union. Furthermore, overtime pay for the beleaguered force soared past $1 billion in FY 2024. Despite these challenges, City Hall did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
As Mayor Adams’ tenure continues, critics argue that the ongoing turmoil and high turnover within the NYPD have undermined public safety efforts in New York City. Council member Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn) highlighted the alarming increase in major felony crimes since before COVID, noting that they are up by over 30% under Mayor Adams’ administration. The councilman called for a renewed focus on improving response times and addressing the root causes of crime in order to create a safer city for all New Yorkers.
