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

Ah, New York. The city so nice, they named it twice.

Or at least, that’s how some people used to think.

The popular city has fallen in decline over the past few years, mainly due to erroneous decisions by Mayor Eric Adams when it comes to his public workers. When COVID hit, thousands of people – including police officers – were unfairly laid off due to their refusal to get a vaccine that they knew little to nothing about.

And though it was admitted that this was a problem, Adams did little to nothing about it. Now, in the midst of his own investigation surrounding bribery, it doesn’t appear that it will see resolution.

While some of you may not see this as a “big problem,” it does add in to a growing concern with the New York Police Department. It’s seen a dramatic drop-off over the past few years, and a new report from the New York Post details just how vast it is.

In the report, it’s revealed that candidates testing to join the NYPD has plunged dramatically. Over the past few years, it’s dropped a whopping 55 percent, going from 18,000 candidates in 2017 to just 8,000 this past year. This comes from the Police Benevolent Association, the city’s largest police union.

Speaking with the Post, one Brooklyn police officer, who concealed his identity, provided some reasoning why. “The biggest problem is that cops are telling their friends and family not to bother with this job, even as a stepping stone, because it’s not worth it.” (The New York Times also linked to this piece, discussing the thousands of injuries officers got while on duty this past year.)

“You’ll be worked to the bone, attacked by perps and politicians and hammered with nonsense complains and ticky-tack discipline.”

This is not exactly what I’d call an encouraging statement. But I see where the officer is coming from.

Ever since the whole “defund the police” campaign that affected thousands of officers, we’ve seen governments handle their departments in disrespectful ways. We’re talking millions in slashed budget funds, which could’ve been used for more protective gear or, better yet, mental health treatment. And yes, mental health is a huge aspect to any police officer’s job. You probably have no idea just how tough it really is.

And now we have New York government – likely under Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul – making terrible judgments for the sake of trying to keep people safe. But they’re the wrong choices, because crime has gotten worse. In fact, a recent incident explains how a robbery crew were able to run through the city, robbing nearly 50 stores and getting away with thousands of dollars.

So now that the damage has been done, what needs to happen to restore faith in the NYPD?

Well, first off, the government needs to stop messing around. Stop trying to bind the hands of the officers that are doing their jobs and allow them to do their jobs. It’s not rocket science. That’s like asking a baker to make you a cake and then supplying them with a packet of gelatin. How are they supposed to get the job done?

On top of that, apologize to the officers you fired. Bring them back on with benefits and full pay. The fact they got let go in the first place is absolutely ridiculous, especially when you consider their reasoning.

And finally, restore faith. That’s a big one. Hochul and Adams have their work cut out for them here, as they’d rather make excuses than accept the fact they made mistakes. It’s clear that Adams has his fair share, which he’s under investigation for.

So now it’s time for them to swallow their pride and just give the NYPD the proper funding – and respect – it deserves. Because, if not, there’s a good chance that the criminal element will gain an even bigger grip in 2025, even as this country enters a turnaround with Donald Trump at the helm later this month.

New York needs to treat its officers right again, and quickly. After all, the last thing the Big Apple needs is a worm embedded within it.

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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.

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