The concept of crime being “out of control” is ridiculous. If it was out of control, you’d see massive looting and rioting all over the city, with police being targeted by civilians and not feeling safe. Instead, any time a police officer suffers a scratch, the entire department freaks out.

Crime does not just occur naturally due to a lack of active or effective policing. People make choices to commit crime. The police are not here to prevent crime. They are here to maintain the system and the status quo.

But you are correct. I was speaking hyperbolically. The NYPD does prevent some crime. They also prevent many people from simply living their lives, they prevent traffic from moving smoothly, they prevent other departments from being fully funded, and they prevent people from parking in their own neighborhoods by abusing their placards + issuing out placards to friends and family. Just to name a few of their prevention policies.

Bottom line: the answer is community prevention. Police should be required to live in the precinct they serve in. And, it should be service. I spent 12 years active duty in the Army. I know how to follow rules and regulations. Cops, on the other hand, don’t think the law applies to them. They should ride public transportation and not abuse their placards to park illegally all over the city. They should be punished for breaking rules. There should be more internal affairs power and civilian oversight on investigations into the many dirty cops. Also, splitting the transit police and parking/vehicle enforcement away from the NYPD proper would fix many problems, as then the NYPD can’t just file fake 311 reports when crime is noticed.