Can't 'Beat' This: Thousands of Cops Will Be Out Of Cars And On Foot Patrol This Summer - Streetsblog New York City

"The strategy began last summer with a smaller "violence reduction plan" that put 1,500 officers on the street - and resulted in a 47-percent decrease in shootings as the NYPD upped the number of foot cops to 2,300 (that number since dipped back to 1,800 officers)."

"At a press conference on Monday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said her beefed-up foot patrols will strictly focus on combating violence and shootings tied to gangs. Getting cops out of their squad cars and onto the streets is not merely a crime-prevention strategy, but can deliver other benefits."

"For instance, vehicle crashes involving cops cost taxpayers over $48 million in 2022, the last year for which data was readily available, Streetsblog reported. Since then, total personal injury claims from crashes involving city vehicles have increased by around 25 percent. And the city spent a staggering $171 million on vehicle injury settlements involving its employees in 2025."

"Foot posts might also save the city money on gas: In 2021, the NYPD spent more than $21 million on gasoline alone, leaving out repairs, vehicle replacement, retrofitting and other costs well known to car owners everywhere. Fuel costs have dropped since then, as the agency has added costly hybrid and electric vehicles to its fleet."

NYPD plans to double the number of officers on foot posts this summer, placing 3,800 car-free beat cops across 40 precincts. The approach builds on a violence reduction plan started last summer that deployed 1,500 officers on the street and increased to 2,300, producing a 47% decrease in shootings before later dropping to 1,800. Experts have long argued that pedestrianized policing can significantly reduce violent crime. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch says the expanded foot patrols will focus strictly on combating violence and gang-related shootings. The strategy may also reduce costs tied to police vehicle crashes, personal injury claims, settlements, and gasoline spending, though foot posts will be limited to specific neighborhoods.

Read at Streetsblog New York City