Adams to boost NYPD ranks with 5,000 new officers amid historic crime lows
NEW YORK, NY – Mayor Eric Adams announced a sweeping public safety investment that will increase the New York Police Department’s uniformed headcount to 40,000 officers — the city’s highest level in two decades.
The plan, unveiled ahead of the November election, commits $17.8 million next fiscal year, rising to $315.8 million by 2029, to fund the phased hiring of 5,000 new officers.
The initiative underscores Adams’ effort to link public safety to the city’s continued economic revival and marks a defining move in his administration’s approach to law enforcement and fiscal policy.
Adams has dropped out of the race for mayor, but the decision comes days before Mario Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani, and Curtis Sliwa compete to be the next mayor of the city.
Key Points
- NYPD to reach 40,000 officers by 2029, highest total in 20 years
- Investment begins at $17.8 million in FY 2026, rising to $315.8 million by FY 2029
- City reports record-low shootings and safest third quarter on subways
Phased hiring to begin in 2026
The expansion begins in July 2026 with 300 new recruits, scaling to 2,500 in 2027 and 5,000 by 2028. Once complete, the NYPD will have approximately 40,000 officers patrolling city streets and subways. The increase builds on Adams’ earlier pledge to raise the force to 35,000 by fall 2026, and follows the department’s largest recruit class since 2016, with 2,911 new hires already this year.
Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch praised the investment, calling it a reinforcement of the NYPD’s record-setting safety gains. “Every new officer means safer streets, stronger communities, and a thriving city,” Tisch said. “This commitment allows us to keep recruiting, training, and deploying the next generation of women and men to build on our success.”
Historic declines in shootings and major crime
Citywide shootings have dropped by more than 20 percent in the first nine months of the year — the lowest ever recorded — and shooting victims are down 19 percent, tying the city’s all-time low. The NYPD also reported the safest third quarter in subway history, with July, August, and September all marking record-low crime rates underground.
Adams credited strong fiscal management and strategic investments for sustaining the city’s safety gains. “Public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity,” he said. “New Yorkers want more police officers on their streets and subways, and that is what we are delivering.”
Fiscal priorities and broader initiatives
The hiring push is funded through the upcoming November Financial Plan Update and coincides with Adams’ balanced $115.9 billion FY 2026 budget, which officials hailed as one of the city’s most fiscally responsible in years. The plan also includes major investments in education, public spaces, and affordability measures, including tax relief for working-class New Yorkers.
Since taking office, the Adams administration has removed over 24,000 illegal firearms from city streets and launched specialized units, including the nation’s largest Domestic Violence Unit, aimed at improving investigations and victim support.