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NYPD: Attacks on officers up 23 percent

Despite a decline in major crime, the city has experienced 995 assaults on officers so far this year

By James Yates
Staten Island Advance

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Attacks on police officers are up 23 percent year-over-year despite a decline in major crimes around the city, officials said.

There have been 995 assaults on officers so far this year compared to only 804 during the same period in 2015, NYPD Deputy of Operations Dermot Shea announced Monday.

Shea said the increase could be attributed to gun arrests, which are up 11.6 percent this year.

"[It is] very interesting to note in the correlation that could be there,” Shea said. “As we reduce some of the misdemeanor and violation arrests and continue our focus on drivers of violence and other crimes in New York City ... we’re seeing our assaults on police officers ... up significantly.”

The increase is “further evidence our officers [are] putting themselves in harm’s way,” he added.

The news came as Mayor Bill de Blasio, Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill and other officials announced that September 2016 was the safest September in the Compstat-era, with a 12.1 percent decrease year-over-year in the total number of major index crimes reported.

Index crimes include murder, shootings, rape, robbery, burglary, assault and grand larceny auto.

“The hard work of the men and women of the NYPD is self-evident, but it is also supported by a sustained reduction in crime,” O’Neill said.

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