Frustrated NYC detectives leaving ‘insane’ NYPD, have ‘had enough’
More than 100 NYPD detectives have retired in June — and another 75 plan to put their papers in next month — as many become frustrated by revolving-door justice and rules that hamstring them in the Big Apple, officials and detectives told The Post.
“That’s going to have a major impact on investigating crimes,” Detectives Endowment Association president Paul DiGiacomo said. “The detective squads are down now as we speak and are investigating more cases. It’s going to have an impact on public safety.”
So far this year, 250 detectives have retired, leaving the total number at about 5,600, which is nearly 2,000 less than two decades ago.
There were 794 detective retirements during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 — and that number dropped down to 395 in 2021. Sources said 100 retirements in just one month is a large number for the NYPD.
The Post also reported earlier this month that cops in general were leaving the force in record numbers.
Caputo, who is leaving after 18 years in the NYPD. “The no-bail law was a big thing with me,” he said. “It’s not even really crimefighting anymore. You arrest somebody for assault 2 with a weapon and then the person is back at the precinct getting his property the next day. They’re not locking anyone up, even those with records. Pay your debt to society. You broke the law.”
“The criminals are not being prosecuted and they’re not being held accountable,” said the sleuth with 500 career arrests.
“It’s insane,” he said. “I feel bad for the businesses. You can even have private security and they just go in there and assault them. They assault police. It really sucks. But I don’t see any politician really solving the problem.”
The city has seen a drop in murders and shootings so far this year over last, by about 12%, but other major crimes — like grand larceny, robberies and burglaries — have experienced steep increases, putting more pressure on investigators, NYPD data show.