New York police officers are about to be worked to extremes

Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

The law enforcement veteran and InVest USA founder discusses why many NYPD officers are in for a rough summer – without the Mayor to back them up.

Upon election into office in New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani insisted he wasn’t against the police. Despite comments he made in the past insisting that police officers should be defunded, he noted, “Over the course of this race, I’ve been very clear about my view of public safety and the critical role that the police have in creating that public safety.”

But instead of defunding them, Mamdani seems to have a different strategy in mind – wearing them out beyond belief.

We know there are some officers out there that are already working extra hours to take care of things. But from the sound of it, many in the New York Police Department are about to experience this – whether they want to or not.

According to the New York Post, Mamdani failed to deliver on his promise to hire an additional 580 officers as part of the revamped city budget (surprise?), as the remaining workforce is set to face a “massive summer workload.”

While NYPD officials said they would make do with what they have, many unions are noting that a number of extended shifts will now be put in place. “The massive summer workload is just starting to hit, and police officers are already burning out and leaving by the hundreds,” noted Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry.

At one point in time, Mamdani backed down on his anti-police claims and vowed to bring more officers in to balance the load. But fearing pressure from the public, he backed down on that deal. Now, as the city is set to bankroll on a $126 billion budget, it appears the NYPD won’t see a single cent of it.

Not for mental health support. Not for new gear. Not for new officers.

In other words, he’s forcing the NYPD to “make do” with their current resources and hope for the best.

That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.

For too long, foolhardy leaders such as Mamdani have been trying to lean on “popularity politics,” keeping the public happy with decisions they feel will benefit them. But where’s that leave hard-working police officers that are simply trying to keep the streets safe while making sure they’re taking care of themselves? High and dry, it seems.

Hendry added, “Mayor Mamdani needs to recognize that there is an even bigger staffing crisis looming, because our members have already been out of contract for nearly a year. He needs to sit down with us and work on ways to keep the cops we already have.”

Now…will he? Somehow I doubt it. He’s too busy shaking hands with other higher-ups and trying to craft the city into something he feels his people will appreciate. The trouble is the others that get left behind as a result.

Officers have already been leaving at an excessive rate, starting with what unfolded from COVID-19 and continuing well through poor leadership over the years. They’re currently at an alarmingly high level, with a 35 percent increase in departures, either with retirement or them simply not deciding it’s not worth it.

It’s depressing to see. These are good, hard-working, dedicated men and women who put their lives on the line daily to protect innocent people. And how are they rewarded? A boost in hours, sometimes even outside of their comfort window, and no support mentally or with the gear they need to stay in one piece.

Mamdani can envision his future all he wants, but the bottom line is that New York will struggle without good police officers to pick up the slack. He simply needs to sit down with these leaders and work things out with them, no matter how much it may tick off his beloved followers. Sometimes you have to do the right thing in order to move forward.

Otherwise, the remaining officers will be pushed to their very limits, leaving them to question if the job is still worth it. And that means more departures. Who then will defend the city of New York? Mamdani’s imaginary guardians?

Wake up, Mayor Mamdani. You need good officers more than ever before. If you lose them, that is on you.

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Michael Letts

Michael A. Letts, Founder, President, and CEO of In-Vest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bullet-proof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs.