Latest de Blasio budget does not add cops to NYPD

$Early numbers for New York City’s budget did not include an increase in police officers despite ongoing pressure from lawmakers and police leadership alike.

While Mayor Bill de Blasio preliminary $7budget covers the bill for new flak jackets for NYPD and an expanded police cadet program, it did not include funding for new cops as the mayor said it was an ongoing discussion.

The mayor told reporters an ongoing drop in crime means more cops might not be a priority.

“We’ll come back in April,” de Blasio said.

But his top cop already told state lawmakers he needed more cops on the ground last week.

“There are not enough, to be quite frank with you,” Bratton said during a state Senate hearing on Thursday.

Members of the New York City Council agreed with Bratton and called on more cops to help deal with what some members have complained about over reliance on overtime.

Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Finance Committee Chair Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras wrote in a statement that the early budget is a good start but that they were disappointed in the lack of new officers.

Both argued for an additional 1,000 cops in last year’s budget, which the de Blasio administration refused to include.

“The Council believes that raising the headcount of NYPD is essential and we will be advocating it strongly this budget cycle.”