Law enforcement veteran Michael Letts wonders what Gov. Kathy Hochul and her team will do to recover from the catastrophic loss.
Per a disturbing new report from the New York Post, it’s been revealed that over 2,500 police officers have left the New York Police Department for the year, with more likely to depart before 2024 rolls around.
What’s even more concerning is that over 1,000 of those officers actually quit before they became eligible for their pension after two decades of service. The stress of the job – and the changing conditions of how the public views officers after “defund the police” – has taken their toll on them.
“The workload is a leading factor driving people away from the job,” Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Patrick Hendry explained. “If the NYPD is going to survive these staffing reductions, it cannot just keep squeezing cops for more hours.”
It’s been an uphill struggle for the NYPD over the past few years, between increasing crime rate, several unnecessary firings during the COVID pandemic, and the current decision by Democratic Mayor Eric Adams to freeze hiring in an effort to resolve its migrant crisis – a poor decision given said crime rate.
One police officer even noted, “I keep in contact with the guys that I was in the police academy with and we all have the same notion. I think maybe 95 percent of us are planning on leaving.”
So can things be turned around before it’s too late? Here to discuss the matter further is Michael Letts, a law enforcement veteran with over 30 years of experience under his belt. Letts is President, Founder and CEO of InVest USA, an organization that provides bulletproof vests to police officers through various charitable groups and sponsorships. His expertise in the matter is certainly useful in this matter.
Q&A:
- Why do you think so many officers are leaving the NYPD? Is it the decision making by officials, or something else that’s driving them away?
- How much has the whole “defund the police” campaign over the past few years taken its toll on officers across this country?
- Do you think it’s a big problem that President Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats haven’t done a thing to re-increase the budget of police officers, to give them the gear and mental health support that’s needed?
- What can New York do to recover from such a catastrophic loss, if anything?
- If you were in charge of a hiring initiative to bring officers to the New York Police Department, how would you go about it?
- You’re the creator of InVest USA, an organization that provides bulletproof vests to police officers through various charitable groups and sponsorships. Tell us more about that, and why support for fellow officers is so important right now.
- Where can we learn more about InVest USA, and how those interested can help their fellow officers.
- You can visit our official InVest USA website, and learn more on the official Invest USA Twitter account. You can also learn about my new initiative at RestoringJustice.US, where we discuss lawful issues surrounding citizens of the United States.
About Michael Letts:
Michael Letts is the Founder, President, and CEO of InVest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. He also has over 30 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, hence his pro-police stance for his brothers and sisters in blue. Those interested in learning more about Letts can visit his official website here.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin at: geraldmcg@outlook.com or 919-437-0001.
