By Joanna Putman
Police1
NEW YORK — While gun crimes, including killings, in New York City have plummeted, assaults on officers have increased dramatically, CBS News reported.
“There’s just an erosion of expectation of authority, this feeling that you don’t have to respect the authority of this city,” Mayor Eric Adams told CBS News.
There were 4,077 assaults on officers during January through March of 2023, according to the report. The number represents a 41% increase since 2021.
“There’s just this attitude of a small number of people who are repeated offenders that believe they don’t have to live in the city or order. They believe they can do whatever they want,” Adams said.
Police officials point to criminal justice reform as one of the root causes, according to the report.
“Only about 8% of the arrest population for assault actually does any kind of jail. Pre-criminal justice reform, that was over 20%,” Michael LiPetri, the NYPD’s chief of crime control and strategies, told CBS News.
“New York City police officers are getting viciously attacked and injured because of the message on the streets,” added PBA President Patrick Hendry. “The message is that the system favors criminals over cops.”
Adams did not say whether he would campaign against lawmakers pushing reform bills, according to the report.