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Police Commissioner Bill Bratton announced Thursday that the NYPD will dedicate more officers to engaging with the community, while also assigning a new unit of specially trained cops to respond to terrorism and protests. (Staten Island Advance)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police Commissioner Bill Bratton announced Thursday that the NYPD will dedicate more officers to engaging with the community, while also assigning a new unit of specially trained cops to respond to terrorism and protests.
Bratton made the announcement Thursday during a Police Foundation breakfast, the Daily News reported.
Previously, precinct officers were assigned to what is called a "critical response" -- a show of force at landmarks and other high profile targets. But now cops will work under a specialized unit and receive special training and weapons, the Associated Press reported. Bratton said the new unit will build on the department's strong counterterror effort and will free up precinct officers to do work in their assigned locations.
"It's a win-win," Bratton said.
The new unit will consist of 350 officers assigned to the NYPD's counter-terrorism bureau, the Daily News reported.
Police will also change how they patrol the streets as part of an effort to build better relationships with the community. The idea is to create space for officers to engage with businesses and residents in ways they are unable to now because they are too busy responding to emergency calls, Bratton said. The specifics of both initiatives, including funding, are being worked out and Bratton said they would be put in place in coming months.
Bratton said the initiatives are a start, but more needs to be done.
"Our most needy communities aren't happy with our service," he said. "That needs to change."
He also said morale among police remains low, but the department is addressing it. "A lot of what we're working on is trying to give them better training, better equipment," Bratton said.
--Associated Press material was used in this report