Mayor, police commissioner announce NYPD's new Quality of Life division
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the formation of a new Quality of Life division of the NYPD.
They made the announcement at the 13th precinct in Gramercy Park.
"We are ushering in the next era of policing," Commissioner Tisch said.
It is one of the five precincts where the first phase of the unit will be rolled out over the next two months.
The Quality of Life division will also be located in one housing police service area.
Specially trained officers will work to improve police responses to quality of life concerns, including calls to 311 about noise complaints, illegal parking, outdoor drug use, and homelessness issues.
They could make an arrest, issue a summons or simply speak with the offender.
"New Yorkers are telling us that even as crime falls, that they still don't feel safe. So we're putting together a plan to address illegal parking, abandoned vehicles, homeless encampments, unreasonable noise, out of control scooters and e-bikes, open air, drug markets and more," added Tisch.
Mayor Adams made it a priority from the early days of his administration.
"No more smoking, no more doing drugs. No more sleeping. No more doing barbecues on the subway system. No more just doing whatever you want," he said back in 2022.
Although overall crime is down to record lows, cars are still racing in the streets, people are sleeping on the trains and camping out on sidewalks and e-bikes are streaking through the city.
Since 2018, overall complaints are up 100%. Noise complaints, also up 100%. Illegal Parking complaints are up 200%. Homeless Encampments are up 500% and Panhandling is up 2,000%.
Tisch stressed "there are no quotas" as she sought to distance the new division from so-called broken windows policing in which officers crack down on low-level crimes to prevent more serious crimes. That approach has been criticized for disproportionately targeting minorities.
"This is different policy for a different reason," Tisch said. "Today is not about crime. Today is about improving quality of life."
Officials say these types of complaints have risen in the five boroughs over the last six years.
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