According to recent NYPD data, the number of assaults on police officers in the city has reached “unprecedented levels,” with incidents rising by 41% compared to last year. This alarming trend was highlighted by a recent shooting incident involving two police officers in Chinatown.
The statistics indicate a continuous rise in such incidents over the past five years, with a staggering 1975 assaults reported this year alone, compared to 1763 during the same period in 2023. This represents a 60% increase since 2019, when there were only 1253 recorded assaults.
Police officials believe this increase reflects a growing societal disrespect for law enforcement and a concerning attitude among criminals that attacking police officers carries little risk of punishment. Patrick Hendry, the president of the police union, expressed concern that many suspects feel emboldened to assault officers, believing “the justice system is on their side.” He advocates for swifter penalties for assaults on police officers to deter such incidents.
Michael LiPetri, the NYPD’s chief of crime strategy, noted that assaults on police are driving an overall rise in violent incidents throughout the city. Current data shows that there have been 22,806 assaults citywide this year, up 5% from 21,712 during the same period in 2023.
LiPetri emphasized that although officers are more actively engaged in their duties than ever, the rate of crimes against the police has reached “unprecedented levels.” He cited a January incident where two officers attempting to disperse an unruly crowd of undocumented immigrants were surrounded and attacked, resulting in minor injuries for Officer Ben Kurian and Officer Zunxu Tian.
George Winkler, a representative of the police union in Lower Manhattan, pointed out that this disdain for law enforcement is not just a New York City issue, as similar sentiments are surfacing nationwide. He warned that movements to defund police departments could further compromise community safety, referencing an incident in August where two officers from the 7th and 5th precincts were shot while pursuing a suspect in East Broadway, Chinatown.
