Police officers attend their New York Police Department graduation ceremony at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 29, 2014 in New York City.Andrew Burton—Getty Images
The NYPD confirmed a report that arrests have plummeted in the wake of the murder of two police officers in Brooklyn on Dec. 20.
The New York Post reported Tuesday that arrests fell 66% and citations for traffic violations fell 94% in the week starting Dec. 22 compared with the same period a year ago.
While crime statistics are publicly available, the NYPD has not yet posted figures for that week to its website. But a NYPD spokesperson confirmed to TIME that the figures in the article are accurate.
After a man shot and killed officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu and then himself on Dec. 20, union leaders have ordered police to take additional safety precautions that have contributed to the decline in police activity. The Post, citing anonymous “police sources,” says that some members of the police force have also actively reduced police activity in protest toward Mayor Bill de Blasio.
TIME’s request to the NYPD for comment on the Post story was not immediately returned.
Union leaders — and the New York Post Editorial Board — have been highly critical of the Mayor, who they say sided with protesters instead of the police during protests earlier this month against a grand jury’s decision not to indict an officer in the death of Eric Garner.
Some members of the police have also publicly defied the Mayor by turning their backs when he has spoken on multiple occasions. Commissioner Bill Bratton said in a recent interview on NBC’s Meet the Press that he did not support officers turning their backs toward a screen with de Blasio speaking during the funeral of slain policeman Rafael Ramos on Saturday.
De Blasio plans to meet with NYPD union leaders on Tuesday to calm tensions and improve relations between the police force and City Hall.
Witness the Aftermath of Police Shooting in Brooklyn
The skyline of Manhattan is seen in the background as investigators work at the scene where two NYPD officers were shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Dec. 20, 2014 John Minchillo—APPolice are pictured at the scene of a shooting where two New York Police officers were shot dead in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Dec. 20, 2014. Carlo Allegri—ReutersPolice are pictured at the scene of a shooting where two New York Police officers were shot dead in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Dec. 20, 2014. John Taggart—EPAA police officer wipes tears away from his face as he walks away from the scene of a shooting where two New York Police officers were shot dead in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Dec. 20, 2014. Carlo Allegri—ReutersPolice pay their respect outside Woodhull Hospital as two Police ambulances carrying the bodies of two murdered officers head to Bellevue Hospital in New York City, Dec. 20, 2014. Paul Martinka—PolarisA man leaves flowers at an impromptu memorial near the site where two police officers were killed the day before in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Dec. 21, 2014. Seth Wenig—APNew York City police officer Darren Cox, right, accompanied by fellow officers, leaves flowers at a memorial in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Dec. 21, 2014.Mark Lennihan—APDonna Salvaggio (L) and a woman who gave her name as Reverend Jordan hug at a makeshift memorial at the site where two police officers were shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Dec. 21, 2014. Carlo Allegri—ReutersA man takes part in a prayer vigil at the site where two police officers were fatally shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Dec. 21, 2014. Carlo Allegri—ReutersMourners take part in a prayer vigil at the site where two police officers were fatally shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Dec. 21, 2014. Stephanie Keith—ReutersNew York Police Department officers Mark Cava, left, and Jason Muller participate in a moment of silence for two slain NYPD officers before an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Detroit Pistons in New York City on Dec. 21, 2014.Jason DeCrow—APNew York Police Department officer Jason Muller salutes during the national anthem after participating in a moment of silence for two slain NYPD officers before an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Detroit Pistons in New York City on Dec. 21, 2014.Jason DeCrow—APA woman recites from a Bible while standing over a makeshift memorial during a prayer vigil at the site where two New York Police Department (NYPD) officers were fatally shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Dec. 21, 2014. Stephanie Keith—ReutersMourners take part in a prayer vigil at the site where two police officers were fatally shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Dec. 21, 2014. Stephen Shames—Polaris
