When the New York City Council conveys its reaction to the preliminary budget formulated by the office of Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday, it will once more contain the proposed financial plan for one thousand extra police officers that includes of three hundred fifty units for counter terrorism.
It's the second year in a row that the council has urged the mayor to increase the number of police officers. Unfortunately, the New York Police Department's (NYPD) additional funding has still not been inserted in de Blasio's initial budget proposal.
Last April, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito proposed hiring one thousand extra cops. The mayor at the time expressed that the current figure of the New York Police officers was sufficient, yet transferred 200 people from desk jobs to the street and to public lodging, according to the local media.
"In order for NYPD to continue to keep New Yorkers safe while also implementing new reforms and initiatives, we need to increase the overall headcount of the department," Mark-Viverito confirmed.
As per the New York City Council, the head tally that the police is permitted with its two yearly academy classes went from 40,710 units in 2001 to 35,437 units in 2014. Thus, the NYPD needed to depend on precinct staff for impromptu occasions and pay all overtime which is well anticipated to be $89 million high this year compared to 2014.
The committee's proposal has called the attention of NYPD to execute a plan to lessen overtime charges by $50 million.
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton told the City Council that overtime expenses could reach $672 million in the 2015 fiscal year. The total cost to hire 1,000 officers in two classes combined in fiscal year 2016 would be $68.7 million growing to $95.1 million in fiscal year 2017, according to the proposal.
Vanessa Gibson, a council member who leads the committee on public security, said the council's reply to the mayor's preliminary plan recognizes the significance of "addressing overtime control in the New York Police Department and focusing on raising the headcount of uniformed officers."
However, the mayor has shown no enthusiasm in growing the size of the NYPD. Interviewed at recent press event at Gracie Mansion, whether the capture of two ladies from Queens on terrorism charges, was a sign that the department needed more officers, de Blasio suggested the contrary.
"I think the fact that our police force has once again performed so well is an indication of how good it is in its current state," said de Blasio.
The last budget agreement is due by July 1, 2015.
Photo: Diana Robinson | Flickr
