In the first half of 2026, New York Police Department officers made 24,343 arrests involving suspects carrying weapons, while discharging their firearms only 23 times. During this period, the NYPD responded to more than 3.35 million 911 calls, including over 75,000 involving persons in crisis and more than 33,000 related to weapons. Out of the more than 141,000 total arrests made, fewer than 6,000 incidents involved the use of any force.

These statistics come amid a directive from New York City Mayor Mamdani, who last week ordered a comprehensive review of the NYPD’s use-of-force policies. The mayor emphasized that every New Yorker should be confident that force is applied lawfully, cautiously, and only when necessary. However, the data from the first six months of 2026 suggest that the use of force by officers remains relatively restrained. Deadly force was used in approximately 0.02% of arrests, and any form of force was employed in 4.2% of cases. The department also reported nearly 2,500 officer injuries stemming from use-of-force encounters, a figure close to the roughly 2,600 injuries sustained by subjects.

Mayor Mamdani’s announcement included proposals for five new reforms aimed at increasing accountability, such as boosting funding for the NYPD inspector general’s office and tightening restrictions on rehiring officers with unresolved disciplinary actions within New York State. Despite these initiatives, some analysts argue that allegations of systemic accountability failures lack sufficient foundation, pointing to consistent patterns in use-of-force data over recent years.

For context, the department recorded 52 firearm discharges in 2017 and 53 in 2024, figures aligned with an eight-year average of around 50 yearly discharges. These numbers persisted despite a series of reforms implemented following the 2020 death of George Floyd, which led to significant legislative and policy changes within New York State and City. Measures included a criminal ban on chokeholds, enhanced reporting requirements for firearm discharges, the creation of new oversight offices, and expanded civil liability opportunities against officers. Additionally, the NYPD rolled out body cameras starting in 2017, aiming to increase transparency and reduce force incidents.

However, from 2020 to 2024, the number of reported use-of-force incidents reportedly increased, alongside a rise in officer injuries caused by subjects. Some commentators suggest these outcomes reflect deteriorated morale among police officers and a greater incidence of resistance by suspects, rather than the effectiveness of reform policies. They argue that the application of force often hinges more on the behavior of individuals being arrested than on policy changes advocated by reform proponents.

As the NYPD proceeds with its internally led review, officials and observers continue to debate the degree to which new reforms will influence use-of-force practices and police accountability in New York City.