Mayor and NYPD say they're battling perception as crime ticks down

Lower Manhattan (PIX11) – New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined top brass with NYPD for the announcement of the 2024 first quarter crime stats, on Wednesday.

"Can we please stop saying crime is up in our subway?" Mayor Eric Adams pleaded inside NYPD Headquarters Wednesday. "We are not [up], we're down."

Police said after a rocky start to this year, a surge in police at turnstiles and on platforms led to 53% more arrests underground. They said transit crime actually ticked down by 1.1% compared to the same time last year, with things really turning around in March.

The NYPD also announced major crime citywide was down by 2.4%, mainly due to a reduction in murders and shootings.

However, the mayor acknowledged the reality of these numbers may not match the perception of many New Yorkers.

"These guys can bring crime down to zero, but if you don't feel safe because you see disorder going on, then you're going to say hey we're not safe," Adams said. "So what we are doing with this team is doing is making sure our officers are visible."

The mayor and NYPD also once again blamed much of the city’s crime on mental health and a high level of repeat offenders taking advantage of recent criminal justice reform efforts.

Adams also pointed to high-profile bursts of violence impacting the feeling of safety in the city.

During the briefing, it was announced at least 12 women have come forward and reported being randomly punched in the face, mainly in Manhattan. Six arrests have been made.

Still, police say despite the jarring nature of the attacks, the Chief of Detectives believed all the events had been isolated. He believes there is just increased police reporting due to social media attention.