As of the latest counts, the New York Police Department has roughly 35,000 sworn officers. That’s a lot of people in blue, but it’s not as many as you might think for a city of over eight million. Think about it: that’s fewer than the number of people who pack into a Yankees playoff game.
To put it in everyday terms, imagine your whole neighborhood block party. Now imagine that every single person at that party, plus the next three blocks, had to keep order, solve problems, and chase down the occasional stolen scooter. That’s the job these 35,000 folks sign up for.
