More than half the city's 75 precincts saw increased response times to “critical” calls from 2007 to 2008, according to NYPD data.
Although many of the 38 precincts saw only slight increases, others had more significant spikes in average response time, including a 42-second increase at the 100th Precinct in Rockaway, Queens, and a 38-second hike at the 13th Precinct on Manhattan's East Side.
NYPD is Slower to Show
NEW YORK, NY — Cops are taking longer to respond to serious crimes, police stats show.
More than half the city’s 75 precincts saw increased response times to “critical” calls from 2007 to 2008, according to NYPD data.
Although many of the 38 precincts saw only slight increases, others had more significant spikes in average response time, including a 42-second increase at the 100th Precinct in Rockaway, Queens, and a 38-second hike at the 13th Precinct on Manhattan’s East Side.
“When it comes to the most serious crimes in progress, seconds can be the difference between life and death,” said City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., chair of the Public Safety Committee.
The average citywide response time rose by about four seconds to 4 minutes and 10 seconds. Every borough except Staten Island experienced increases.
Although Staten Island saw a decrease of about seven seconds, all three of its precincts suffered among the worst response times in the city at over 5 minutes.
Police spokesman Paul Browne acknowledged the increases in response times but said: “The fact remains that response times now are significantly better than they were a decade ago.”
