Committee on Public Safety meeting
March 18, 2026, 9:30 AM
The Committee on Public Safety held its FY2027 preliminary budget hearing on the Police Department, the District Attorneys and Special Narcotics Prosecutor, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. The committee took testimony and recorded no votes.
What was discussed
- Committee gavels in for the Public Safety preliminary budget hearing Chairperson Oswald Feliz opened the Committee on Public Safety's Fiscal 2027 preliminary budget hearing covering the NYPD, the District Attorneys and Special Narcotics Prosecutor, the CCRB, and the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice; Speaker Julie Menin gave opening remarks, counsel swore in the
- NYPD Commissioner presents the department's budget Jessica Tisch, NYPD Commissioner, delivered the department's testimony alongside her command staff, citing reductions in crime and the agency's investigative work heading into Fiscal 2027.
- Why has NYPD's uniformed headcount fallen while civilian roles grew? Pressed by Speaker Julie Menin and Chairperson Oswald Feliz, Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the department's authorized headcount is roughly 35,000 uniformed officers, fewer than in 2001, and, asked why uniformed positions fell 13% while civilian roles grew 66% over 25 years, argued that crime
- Is the NYPD bringing down overtime spending? Asked by Speaker Julie Menin and Chairperson Oswald Feliz, Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Deputy Commissioner Kristine Ryan said the FY26 overtime budget is $929.4 million with a projection of about $1.03 billion, roughly $100 million below last year and down 14% the prior fiscal year, that the
- Why did the NYPD change how it reports hate crimes? Asked by Speaker Julie Menin about a report that the NYPD altered its hate-crime reporting to count only confirmed cases, Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the change as more accurate, said the prior numbers were conflicting, and asserted the department updates and publishes hate-crime figures
- How is the NYPD complying with the city's sanctuary law? Asked by Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Elsie Encarnación, Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the NYPD's compliance with the city's sanctuary-city laws restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and discussed related in-service training.
- What is the future of the Strategic Response Group and gang database? Asked by Chairperson Oswald Feliz, Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the NYPD's criminal-group (gang) database and the role of the Strategic Response Group in policing protests, and addressed ongoing conversations about whether the SRG could be disbanded.
- How will a new mental-health response department overlap with the NYPD? Asked by Chairperson Oswald Feliz, Commissioner Jessica Tisch discussed how a new department handling mental-health calls would interact with the NYPD, including potential budget effects and where responsibilities would overlap.
- How does the NYPD use the Domain Awareness System and other technology? Asked by Finance Chair Linda Lee, Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the Microsoft-built Domain Awareness System and data retention, the department's use of asset forfeiture, and whether any units could be reduced or eliminated for savings.
- How is the NYPD handling recruitment, retention, and separations? Asked by Chairperson Oswald Feliz, Commissioner Jessica Tisch provided figures on officers leaving the department, separations by retirement versus other reasons, recent hiring, and average response times, in the context of whether overtime can fall without raising headcount.
- Are school safety agents, 911 operators, and crossing guards adequately staffed? Asked by Chairperson Oswald Feliz, Commissioner Jessica Tisch said school safety agents have a budgeted headcount of 4,065 with about a 12% vacancy, and addressed retention and hiring initiatives for school safety agents, 911 operators (where burnout is a factor), and school crossing guards.
- Is crime progress reaching the Bronx, and how is vehicle theft being addressed? Asked by Chairperson Oswald Feliz and Council Member Elsie Encarnación, Commissioner Jessica Tisch discussed the new Bronx Patrol Borough and crime trends, with Feliz noting that gains on shootings and murders had not fully reached the Bronx, and addressed a citywide rise in vehicle theft
- How are Neighborhood Safety Teams, the Q Team, and overseas postings performing? Asked by Council Members Kamillah Hanks and Sandy Nurse, Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the metrics for the Neighborhood Safety Teams, the NYPD's international liaison officers stationed in about 12 countries, the work of the Q (quality-of-life) Team, and typical precinct-commander tenure amid
- Does the NYPD have the equipment it needs, from the bomb squad to tasers? Asked by Chairperson Oswald Feliz, Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed whether the bomb squad has sufficient equipment, the department's non-lethal equipment, and an update on the roughly $11 million taser contract.
- District Attorneys and Special Narcotics Prosecutor testify The five District Attorneys and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor testified and, questioned by Council Members Kamillah Hanks, Sandy Nurse, Elsie Encarnación, Justin Sanchez, and Phil Wong, discussed assistant district attorney pay parity and retention, discovery-reform technology and vendors, asset
- Civilian Complaint Review Board testifies on staffing and case timelines The CCRB's Executive Director testified and, questioned by Chairperson Oswald Feliz and Council Members Phil Wong and Sandy Nurse, said the board's 2024 strategic resource allocation has affected 3,473 complaints, described body-worn-camera footage requests (3,010 in 2025) and an investigation
- Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice testifies on reentry, ATI, and Rikers MOCJ Director Logan testified and, questioned by Chairperson Oswald Feliz and Council Members Sandy Nurse and Phil Wong, discussed the Office of Hate Crime Prevention ($26 million, citywide), alternatives-to-incarceration and reentry programs serving thousands, efforts to speed NYPD evidence to
- Public defenders and legal-service providers testify Public defender organizations and legal-service providers testified, telling Chairperson Oswald Feliz about attorney starting salaries, how retention and funding shortfalls create case delays, and which alternatives-to-incarceration programs they find most effective.
- Unions and advocates testify on the public-safety budget Union representatives, including Jane Fox, and other organizations and advocates testified on the NYPD and criminal-justice budget before Chairperson Oswald Feliz, who reminded speakers to stay on the budget topic.
- Public testimony concluded and hearing closed Chairperson Oswald Feliz worked through the remaining in-person and remote public witnesses and closed the hearing with no vote taken.
Agenda
1 item
- T2026-1375 New York City Council Budget and Oversight Hearings on The Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2027, The Preliminary Capital Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2030 and The Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor’s Management Report 9:30 a.m. Police Department 12:30 p.m. District Attorneys/Special Narcotics Prosecutor Hearing Held by Committee