April 16, 2003

NYPD: Budget Cuts will Put City Residents at Risk

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Under the budget Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveiled yesterday, the New York Police Department will lose 1,700 civilian jobs. The newest class of recruits would be cancelled. The NYPD is now speaking out against the plan, saying the cuts put the public at risk.

Crime is down nine percent this year, but many worry that trend of lower crime could change with a much smaller police force. After more than a decade of strength and growth, the New York City Police Department is now shrinking.

Pat Lynch, NYPD Police Union President: "We are outraged that they would even suggest cutting the police department on the heels of September 11, when crime has the potential of going up. Homicides are up thirteen percent, gun arrests on the street are up which equates to more guns on the street."

During the Giuliani years we had almost 41,000 police officers, but now the July police academy could be cancelled, and New York City could have just 32,000 cops by next year. Lynch compared the decrease to the number of cops in 1991.

Lynch: "We remember 1991. Crime was running rampant in our streets, businesses were fleeing. Brian Watkins was killed on a subway platform defending his mother from a gang of thugs. It was a nightmare."

Yesterday, the mayor blamed Albany and the unions for refusing any help and announced that he has no options left. State law requires Bloomberg to balance the budget, and he can do nothing but cut it.

Later this afternoon, Mayor Bloomberg will be in Chinatown to meet with business leaders and have his daily question and answer session with reporters. Many questions are expected on the Doomsday budget and its effect on the police department.

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