The New York City Police Department is the municipal agency responsible for law enforcement, public safety, and crime prevention across the five boroughs. This page covers CBC’s work on NYPD budget allocations, uniformed overtime spending, staffing levels, pension structures, and public safety satisfaction surveys.
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Reschedule the police officers’ work day to increase time in law enforcement and decrease paid time for changing uniforms.
Reassign police officers from jobs better done by civilians to law enforcement duties.
Stop using officers on overtime to perform duties that are predictable and could be scheduled in advance.
Key Data
In June 2025, a resident survey revealed that only 42% of New Yorkers rated neighborhood public safety as excellent or good, down from 50% in 2017, while only 22% felt safe on the subway at night.
According to a November 2024 report, the Department of Education and the Police Department combined to make up 62% of the City's total on-board headcount in fiscal year 2024, though the NYPD's headcount declined by 5,086 employees (10%) between fiscal years 2019 and 2024.
In July 2024, analysis showed that only 6.7% of fiscal year 2025 budget cuts were restored, which included $115 million to restore NYPD Academy classes.
In June 2021, the CBC projected that the NYPD's fiscal year 2021 overtime spending would reach $448 million, which was 67% or $180 million over its adopted budget of $268 million.
In September 2020, the CBC reported that the POLICE pension fund had a funded ratio of 82.2% as of fiscal year 2019, which was higher than the Fire pension fund's ratio of 65.4%.
2,500 is the number of uniformed officers NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch moved from behind desks to patrolling NYC streets this summer. The move helped drive down serious crimes, and couldn't have come at a better time. In response to a CBC survey last winter, 42% of New Yorkers reported feeling…
Jessica S. Tisch was appointed the 48th police commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor Eric Adams in November 2024. Immediately prior, she had served as the commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, a post she held since April 2022. Commissioner Tisch began her career…
Mayoral candidates emphasize the need to control the New York City Police Department's budget by reducing excessive uniformed overtime through improved staffing and operational reforms. Proposed strategies include implementing hard overtime caps, eliminating unlimited sick leave, and excluding overtime earnings from pension calculations to address fiscal waste.
Recommendations related to Police Department
Candidates support actions to reduce uniformed overtime, such as a hard overtime cap, the elimination of unlimited sick leave, or the exclusion of most overtime earnings from pension calculations.
Candidates propose addressing the NYPD recruitment and retention crisis by staffing agencies up to budgeted headcount to reduce dependence on overtime.
Candidates suggest that the city should redirect overtime funds into youth jobs, housing, and health to address the root causes of crime.
Candidates advocate for confronting chronic understaffing at the NYPD to reduce out-of-control overtime.
Candidates suggest that smarter staffing and scheduling are necessary to end pension spiking and unlimited leave abuse.
Key Data
$682 Million
— Estimate of annual overtime underbudgeting embedded in the FY2026–FY2029 plan.
$758 Million
— FY2025 overtime underbudgeting.
$1.1 Billion
— FY2024 uniformed‑agency overtime budget that was fully spent in 7 months.
New Yorkers' satisfaction with public safety remains significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels, with only 42% rating neighborhood safety as excellent or good. Furthermore, 73% of residents cite safety concerns as a primary reason for considering leaving the city, while subway safety ratings remain particularly low, with only 22% of residents feeling safe at night.
Key Data
42%
— New Yorkers who rate public safety in their neighborhood excellent or good in 2025, down from 50% in 2017.
73%
— New Yorkers who cite safety as one of the top three reasons for considering moving out of New York City.
50%
— New Yorkers who feel safe in the subway during the day.
22%
— New Yorkers who feel safe in the subway at night.
In fiscal year 2024, the Police Department and Department of Education accounted for 62% of New York City's total on-board headcount. Between fiscal year 2019 and 2024, the Police Department saw its on-board headcount decline by 5,086 employees, or 10%.
Key Data
62%
— The share of total City on-board headcount comprised by employees at the Department of Education and the <b>Police Department</b> in fiscal year 2024.
5,086
— The decline in <b>Police Department</b> on-board headcount between fiscal year 2019 and 2024.
10%
— The percentage decline in <b>Police Department</b> on-board headcount between fiscal year 2019 and 2024.
Only 37% of New Yorkers rate public safety in their neighborhood as excellent or good, a significant decline from 50% in 2017, with safety ratings on subways at night dropping to just 22%. To address these concerns, city leaders and the police department should integrate detailed resident feedback alongside traditional metrics like CompStat to improve public safety policies and service quality.
Recommendations related to Police Department
The resident survey findings should inform the City's and NYPD's approach to addressing public safety concerns.
Both the City Council and the Administration should incorporate in-depth, statistically valid public safety feedback into management systems and policy development.
Resident survey data should complement and be viewed alongside City service performance metrics and CompStat data to get a sharper picture of service quality and results to help drive the needed progress.
Key Data
37%
— Percentage of New Yorkers rating public safety in their neighborhood as excellent or good in 2023, down from 50% in 2017.
22%
— Percentage of New Yorkers who report feeling safe on the subway at night in 2023.
49%
— Percentage of New Yorkers who report feeling safe on the subway during the day in 2023.
71%
— Percentage of New Yorkers who report feeling safe in parks and playgrounds during the day.
28%
— Percentage of Bronx residents who rate their neighborhood public safety as excellent or good.
52%
— Decrease in the nighttime subway safety positive rating from 2017 to 2023.
The administration's "Blueprint to End Gun Violence" includes initiatives for the Police Department, yet the city has failed to provide cost estimates or identify funding sources for these programs. Additionally, the city plans to maintain police oversight of school safety officers and has reinstated a plain-clothes anti-violence unit.
The New York City Police Department's fiscal year 2022 budget is set to increase by $728 million to $10.5 billion, driven by rising costs and unresolved labor contracts. Despite previous efforts to reduce spending, persistent overtime costs and the need for future salary adjustments threaten to push expenditures well beyond current budget projections.
Recommendations related to Police Department
The NYPD must exercise diligent management of overtime spending to ensure fiscal year 2022 expenditures remain within budgeted levels.
The City must ensure that funding for future raises from collective bargaining agreements is accurately reflected in the NYPD budget once new agreements are ratified.
The City should provide additional resources to the NYPD budget if arbitration decisions for uniformed officer unions exceed current patterns.
Key Data
$490 million
— Total reduction in fiscal year 2021 NYPD City-funded spending.
$10.5 billion
— Executive Budget allocation for the NYPD for fiscal year 2022.
$180 million
— Projected amount that fiscal year 2021 overtime spending will be over budget.
7.5 percent
— Increase in the fiscal year 2022 NYPD budget from the current fiscal year 2021 plan.
$434 million
— Amount budgeted for overtime in fiscal year 2022.
$418 million
— Amount already spent on overtime through June 10, 2021.
The next New York City Comptroller will play a critical role not only in holding the next Administration and agencies accountable, investing and managing five pension funds with $248 billion in assets, and partnering in $13 billion City debt issuance, but also in spotlighting and promoting New York City’s fiscal…
Total major felony criminal incidents in New York City increased by 1.2 percent in fiscal year 2020, with significant rises in murders, burglaries, and grand larceny auto. While some crimes like forcible rape and grand larceny declined, gang incidents and gun arrests saw notable increases during the same period.
Key Data
1.2 percent
— Increase in total major felony criminal incidents in fiscal year 2020.
52 percent
— Increase in gang incidents in fiscal year 2020.
17 percent
— Decline in forcible rape incidents in fiscal year 2020.
7 percent
— Increase in robbery incidents in fiscal year 2020.
8 percent
— Decline in grand larceny incidents in fiscal year 2020.
7 percent
— Increase in gun arrests in fiscal year 2020.
The New York Police Department faces a $345 million reduction in its fiscal year 2021 budget, representing a 6.6% decrease from the previous year. This budget adjustment includes a reduction of 1,252 full-time and full-time equivalent positions within the department.
Key Data
$345 million
— The greatest dollar cut in the fiscal year 2021 budget is for the New York Police Department.
1,252
— The fiscal year 2021 budget includes a reduction of full-time and full-time equivalent positions at the NYPD.
-6.6%
— The NYPD budget is projected to see a year-over-year change of -6.6% in fiscal year 2021.
$4,898 million
— The adopted fiscal year 2021 budget for the New York Police Department is $4,898 million.
New York City's fiscal crisis necessitates labor savings, including reforms to the Variable Supplement Fund (VSF) and pension structures for uniformed services like the police. By eliminating VSF payments and transferring assets to main pension funds, the City could achieve significant long-term budget savings and improve the funding ratios of uniformed pension systems.
Recommendations related to Police Department
The City should seek State legislation to eliminate the VSFs and have the assets transferred to the main pension funds to improve the funding ratio of uniformed pension funds.
The City could reduce overtime for skilled trades and uniformed employees through the implementation of overtime caps.
Night shift differentials for uniformed workers should be eliminated where facilities and services are provided around the clock, as higher salaries and benefits already reflect the expectation for working on nights, weekends, and holidays.
Key Data
$4.9 billion
— Estimated assets of the Variable Supplement Fund (VSF) for the police.
82.2 percent
— The funding ratio of the police pension fund as of fiscal year 2019.
$1.1 billion
— Total uniformed-agency overtime in fiscal year 2019.
$1 billion is the target reduction in the NYPD budget that became the focal point of recent budget negotiations. Was this cut actually made in the NYC Adopted FY2021 Budget? CBC's Adrian Pietrzak and Ana Champeny discuss the NYPD's budget and how it's going to change in the coming year…
CBC hosted a special panel discussion of prominent fiscal experts who helped New York overcome some of the most dire crises of the past. They provided insights and lessons from past experiences to help us understand and navigate the looming crisis. Stephen Berger Chairman, Odyssey Investment Partners; Former Executive Director,…
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority faces significant financial constraints and should identify how to fund the hiring of 581 new police officers without increasing its operating deficit. Before expanding the force, the agency should collaborate with existing law enforcement to establish clear goals and maximize the effectiveness of current policing efforts.
Recommendations related to Police Department
Before authorizing the hiring of 581 new officers, the MTA Board needs to know exactly how the MTA will find the funds to pay for them without increasing the operating deficit.
The MTA should work with the NYPD and its own officers to establish clear goals and expectations and maximize the effectiveness of existing policing.
The MTA Board must identify how it will cover the cost of this expenditure without increasing the MTA’s operating deficit.
Key Data
$56.1 million
— Cost of increasing the size of the MTA police force with 500 new officers and 81 supervisors in year one.
$119.9 million
— Cost of increasing the size of the MTA police force with 500 new officers and 81 supervisors in year ten.
$260 million
— Cost of the new officers over the 2020-2023 financial plan.
$740 million
— The MTA's projected operating budget deficit before the new officers are added.
$1 billion
— The MTA's projected operating budget deficit after the new officers are added.
2,500
— Number of NYPD officers currently assigned to patrol subway and buses.
Between fiscal years 2014 and 2019, average pay for police officers increased by 1.5 percent annually, while their overtime pay grew by 2.2 percent per year. During this same period, aggregate uniformed overtime expenses rose to $1.1 billion, accounting for approximately two-thirds of the City's total overtime budget.
Key Data
1.5 percent
— Average annual pay increase for police officers between fiscal years 2014 and 2019.
2.2 percent
— Annual increase in overtime pay for police officers between fiscal years 2014 and 2019.
$1.1 billion
— Total aggregate uniformed overtime in fiscal year 2019, which comprises approximately two-thirds of total overtime expenses in the City budget.
3.5 percent
— Annual growth rate for police detectives (grade 3) positions between fiscal years 2014 and 2019.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s plan to hire 500 new police officers and 81 supervisors will cost over $260 million between 2020 and 2023. This hiring strategy contributes to a $1 billion operating budget gap over the next four years, exacerbating the system's existing financial stress.
Key Data
500
— Number of new police officers the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has committed to hiring to address quality of life concerns.
$93,000
— Annual total cost for one new police officer in the first year, including salary, overtime, benefits, and pensions.
$260 million
— Total cost of the 581 officers and supervisors over the 2020-2023 financial plan.
$1 billion
— Operating budget gap over the next four years resulting from the hiring strategy combined with the projected cumulative financial plan deficit.
$40 million
— Grant from the Manhattan District Attorney to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to help offset added costs.
$119.9 million
— Annual cost of the hiring strategy in the tenth year.
Between fiscal year 2014 and fiscal year 2019, New York City's budget grew by $19 billion, with the Police Department being one of four agencies that accounted for $10 billion of the $15 billion increase in agency budgets. The Police Department specifically saw its spending increase by $1.1 billion during this period, with funds distributed across administration, patrol, counter-terrorism, and other operational costs.
Key Data
$1.1 billion
— Total increase in Police Department spending between fiscal year 2014 and fiscal year 2019.
$284 million
— Increase in Police Department spending allocated to administration.
$331 million
— Increase in Police Department spending allocated to other operational costs.
$189 million
— Increase in Police Department spending allocated to the Chief of Department.
$163 million
— Increase in Police Department spending allocated to patrol.
$116 million
— Increase in Police Department spending allocated to counter-terrorism.
New York City experienced a reversal in its long-term decline of major felony crimes during fiscal year 2016, with 1,742 additional crimes reported compared to the previous year. This 1.7% increase highlights a concerning trend in public safety metrics as reported in the Mayor's Management Report.
Key Data
1,742
— The number of additional major felony crimes committed in fiscal year 2016 compared to fiscal year 2015.
1.7%
— The increase in major felony crimes committed in fiscal year 2016 compared to fiscal year 2015.
The Police Department is one of the city's largest recipients of increased funding, with a $669 million rise in city-funded expenditures between fiscal years 2014 and 2020. This 15 percent increase in funding supports a 7 percent growth in headcount, with much of the additional spending directed toward higher compensation for personnel.
Key Data
$669 million
— The increase in city-funded expenditures for the Police Department between fiscal years 2014 and 2020.
3,448
— The increase in city-funded headcount at the Police Department between fiscal years 2014 and 2020.
15 percent
— The increase in city funds allocated to the Police Department between fiscal years 2014 and 2020.
7 percent
— The growth in city-funded headcount at the Police Department between fiscal years 2014 and 2020.
12 percent
— The share of total city-funded expenditure growth accounted for by the Police Department.
The post examines the fiscal outlook for New York City's 2017 budget, highlighting concerns that overtime costs in the Police Department are outpacing targets. Despite agreements to cap these expenses in exchange for increasing the police force, projections suggest that overtime spending will significantly exceed the city's forecasts.
Key Data
$136 million
— Potential amount by which Police Department overtime expenses may surpass the city’s forecast in fiscal 2016.
$221 million
— Potential amount by which Police Department overtime expenses may surpass the city’s forecast in fiscal 2017.
The New York City Police Department's total expenses and headcount are examined, with a specific focus on the impact of overtime costs. This overview provides insight into the financial and staffing structure of the department.
Proposed legislation for uniformed employees, including police, would significantly increase disability benefit costs, with some bills adding hundreds of millions to the city's long-term financial obligations. These proposals aim to restore prior benefit levels and presumptions of on-the-job injury, creating substantial fiscal impacts on the city's budget.
Key Data
$35.7 Million
— FY2015 budget increase for A5295 regarding police disability benefits.
$272.3 Million
— FY2015 actuarial present value of NYC contributions for A5295.
$622.9 Million
— FY2019 actuarial present value of NYC contributions for A5295.
$37.8 Million
— FY2015 budget increase for A6046/S4269 regarding police and fire disability benefits.
$288.6 Million
— FY2015 actuarial present value of NYC contributions for A6046/S4269.
$850.2 Million
— FY2019 actuarial present value of NYC contributions for A6046/S4269.
NY1 When it comes to police and firefighters, Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to roll back part of the pension reform he helped push through the state legislature in 2012.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police force is paid more generously than most other regional law enforcement agencies, largely due to higher base salaries and more extensive supplemental pay. The next contract for these officers should aim to align their compensation with that of officers in other large urban police departments in the region.
Recommendations related to Police Department
The next contract for PANYNJ officers should make progress in aligning their pay to that of officers in large urban departments in the region.
The next contract with the PANYNJ officers should make progress in narrowing the disparities by moving them closer to the pay received by officers in other large urban departments in the region.
Key Data
$406 million
— The PANYNJ’s 2012 budget allocation for the Public Safety Department.
$372 million
— The amount allocated for personal service items within the PANYNJ Public Safety Department's 2012 budget.
$117,884
— The annual earnings for a PANYNJ officer at 25 years of service in 2009.
$2,700
— The annual uniform allowance for a PANYNJ officer.
$8,832
— The 2009 annual premium cost for individual health insurance coverage for PANYNJ officers.
NY1 The 2013 mayor's race is just starting to take shape. While the burgeoning field is busy staking out positions on the NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy and Mayor Bloomberg's push to ban the sale of large sugary drinks, it is possible that a debate over a decidedly more wonky issue -…
The New York City Police Department faced proposed expense reductions of $253 million during the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years, though $160 million of these cuts were eventually reversed. This reversal included approximately $100 million in savings that had been tied to the elimination of 2,000 uniformed positions.
Key Data
$253 million
— Proposed expense reductions for the Police Department during the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years.
$160 million
— Amount of proposed expense reductions for the Police Department that were reversed.
$100 million
— Portion of reversed expense reductions for the Police Department associated with eliminating uniformed positions.
2,000
— Number of uniformed positions in the Police Department that were saved from elimination due to budget restorations.
Extending Tier II pension provisions to new police and fire hires would undermine efforts to control rising retirement costs by exempting these employees from the proposed Tier V benefits. Maintaining these generous pension structures for uniformed staff exacerbates existing inequities and places a significantly higher financial burden on public employers compared to civilian staff.
Recommendations related to Police Department
The Governor should veto A3426/S1409.
To effectively curb rising state and local pension costs, new uniformed employees must be eligible for Tier V benefits along with civilian employees.
Any effort to exempt uniformed employees from Tier V benefits, even on a temporary basis, should be rejected.
The Governor should resist any effort to exempt certain classes of employees from the provisions of Tier V.
Key Data
86%
— of uniformed employees that retired from the New York State Police and Fire Retirement System were under the age of 60.
$48,900
— the lower end of the range of annual lifetime pension payments for retired uniformed employees.
$66,586
— the upper end of the range of annual lifetime pension payments for retired uniformed employees.
20%
— of salary that public employers are expected to contribute to fund the pension of a uniformed employee.
11%
— of salary that public employers are expected to contribute to fund the pension of a civilian employee.
In order to promote fiscal reform, the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) convened three separate agenda-setting conferences for key stakeholders in the state budget process in 2007. Each session focused on one aspect of fiscal reform with a goal of identifying specific changes for the coming budget cycle. The expectation is…
New York City spends nearly one-third more on police services per capita than the average for other large American cities, with staffing levels also significantly higher. To address budget gaps, the city should implement more rational staffing at the police department by rescheduling work days, reassigning civilian-appropriate tasks to civilians, and reducing overtime for predictable duties.
Recommendations related to Police Department
Reschedule the police officers’ work day to increase time in law enforcement and decrease paid time for changing uniforms.
Reassign police officers from jobs better done by civilians to law enforcement duties.
Stop using officers on overtime to perform duties that are predictable and could be scheduled in advance.
Key Data
$610 million
— Police Department overtime expenses in fiscal year 2002.
$347 million
— Police Department overtime expenses in fiscal year 2002 not related to the attacks on September 11, 2001.
$117 million
— Estimated annual savings from reducing overtime for predictable duties.
50 percent
— Amount by which New York City's full-time equivalent police employees exceeds the large city average.
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