Police Officers Resigning at an Alarming Rate; Many Seeking Better Pay With Other Police Departments

Resignations Up 22% Since 2015; Increase Since 2011 is 200%

The number of police officers resigning from the NYPD who are not eligible to collect a pension has increased by 22% in 2016 when compared to the previous year and is up 200% since 2011, PBA president Patrick J. Lynch announced today.  

The increasing number of officers choosing to leave the department is consistent with the survey conducted by the PBA this spring, which found that 89% of New York City police officers were interested in leaving the NYPD for a better paying law enforcement job in the New York City area. New York City police officers are currently paid an average of 34% less than police officers in other local agencies and in other large cities nationwide. 

The data was provided to the PBA by the New York City Police Pension Fund, which routinely tracks the number of officers retiring or resigning from the NYPD, and reveals that resignations are up by 22% from the previous year. In addition, the 2016 resignations, which total 506, show an increase of nearly 200% since 2011, when only 169 police officers resigned. 

NYPD Police Officer Resignations Since 2011

Source: NYC Police Pension Fund Data 

PBA president Patrick J. Lynch said: 

“Eight out of ten PBA members said in a survey that they would leave the job if they could. The latest resignation numbers — which reveal a 200 percent increase in just five years — are proof that many are doing just that, often to take a better-paying law enforcement job here in the New York City area. New York City cannot afford to allow all of this talent, experience and investment in training walk out the door, especially with our local precincts already understaffed. It’s up to the Mayor and our city leaders to provide better pay, benefits, and conditions so that we keep these officers on the job and they can continue making our streets safer.”

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