--- description: NYPD arrests have plummeted in the wake of the murder of two police officers as members of the police express concerns for their own safety. title: NYPD Arrests Down 66% Since Officers’ Death image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte4f9a305f37fcd81/698777b7524fc0e6d5debac1/460891764.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # NYPD Arrests Down 66% Since Officers’ Death  by [Noah Rayman](/author/noah-rayman/)  ## Noah Rayman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 30, 2014 5:16 PM CUT  Police officers attend their New York Police Department graduation ceremony at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 29, 2014 in New York City. 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  by [Noah Rayman](/author/noah-rayman/)  ## Noah Rayman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 30, 2014 5:16 PM CUT The NYPD confirmed a report that arrests [have plummeted](http://nypost.com/2014/12/29/arrests-plummet-following-execution-of-two-cops/ "undefined") 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](http://time.com/3648097/new-york-commissioner-bratton-nypd-officers-killed/ "undefined") 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](http://time.com/3649479/bill-de-blasio-to-meet-with-nypd-union-leaders/ "undefined") 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—AP  Police 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—Reuters  Police 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—EPA  A 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—Reuters  Police 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—Polaris  A 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—AP  New 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—AP  Donna 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—Reuters  A 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—Reuters  Mourners 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—Reuters  New 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—AP  New 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—AP  A 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—Reuters  Mourners 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. 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