Staten Island’s police force is smaller than it was in 1968 — even though the population has doubled since then.
The slide has accelerated in recent years — prompting borough leaders to sound the alarm over a 16% drop in officers patrolling the Forgotten Borough over the past five years alone.
The NYPD now has about 630 officers on the island, compared to 800 in 1968.
The borough of 495,000 residents is bigger than Miami, Cleveland or Pittsburgh.
There are less cops on Staten Island than in 1968, according to the DA’s office. Helayne Seidman for the NY Post “We are in constant dialogue to ensure that Staten Island is well represented in terms of personnel, and we will continue that conversation and get the resources that Staten Island expects and deserves,” Borough President Vito Fossella said at a press conference Wednesday.
Despite fewer cops on the beat, major crime was down 5.7% between Jan. 1 and March 29 compared to the same period last year, and there have been no murders reported so far in 2026, according to NYPD data.
But one of the island’s four precincts, the 121st on the north shore, saw a 39% surge in assaults, from from 49 to 68, and a 17% spike in robberies, from 12 to 14.
Robberies also increased in the mid-island’s 122nd precinct by 9% from 11 to 12.
Staten Island DA Michael McMahon’s office said there is a dire need for more cops.
DA Michael McMahon, center, and BP Vito Fossella, to McMahon’s left, held a press conference in front of Brother’s Pizzeria on Staten Island Wednesday. Sonya Gugliara/NY Post “The number one issue we hear from our NYPD partners is personnel. They are stretched too thin, especially on Staten Island,” a spokesperson told The Post. “This reality has a massive impact on local law enforcement’s ability to properly deter and investigate crime.”
Staten Island has been “remarkably safe this year so far,” an NYPD spokesperson told The Post.
“The NYPD puts cops where the crime is – that is policing 101. Thanks to the incredible work of the members of the NYPD, major crime is down on Staten Island, including zero murders so far this year. We are constantly monitoring crime across the city, and we deploy officers where they are needed most.”
As Staten Island worries about police staffing shortages, Mayor Mamdani has scrapped plans to add 5,000 more cops to the city’s force.
Mamdani walked back former Eric Adams’ plans to raise the number city police officers from 35,000 to 40,000 in February — sticking to his campaign promise to freeze hiring above that level.
Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
