On March 21st, Council Member James Vacca took the New York Police Department to task for what he called “serious manpower shortages.” During a City Council Public Safety Committee budget hearing, Vacca questioned Commissioner William Bratton regarding the staffing levels of the NYPD.
“We have taken for granted, for far too long, the crime reductions our city has experienced,” said Council Member Vacca. “We can only maintain these reductions and build on them with adequate police protection. The taxpayers and law-abiding citizens of our city must demand nothing less.”
Vacca also focused his remarks on conditions at precincts, after Bratton commented on the state of the buildings. “I agree with you, some of the station houses are deplorable,” he said. “It sends a terrible message to the public that we don’t care about our police stations.” (Committee chair and Bronx Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson mentioned that citizens regularly see the conditions at precinct council meetings.)
During the hearing, Vacca also expressed concern that the Department’s current resources may be too stretched, due to increased allocations to the terror and highway units and a renewed emphasis on traffic safety and community policing.
“How do we do focus on all these different things without robbing Peter to pay Paul? Our resources are already stretched, and the police academy’s graduating classes barely keep up with attrition and retirements. We must be proactive and not be behind the eight ball when it comes to public safety.”
Follow Us