PBA President reacts to proposed state budget cuts

PBA president Patrick J. Lynch said:  “Albany’s planned cuts of $1.3 billion in funding to the City would be devastating to both the NYPD and the City.   The City has already cut police officer strength by 6,000 to levels not seen since the dark days of high crime and out-of-control street violence in the late 1980s and early 1990s.  Further cutting police officer strength by 3,100 would produce truly catastrophic consequences, exposing the City to increased risks from terrorism threats including those involved with the upcoming terror trials, rampant street crime, and the resulting economic consequences that would drain an already strained treasury.  

“We are in challenging times where the decision makers must prioritize which government services are most critical.  Not all government services are of equal importance.  Reducing further an already diminished police force is not an option.  The NYPD must be fully staffed and funded in order to maintain the safe streets that make New York City economically viable.”