NYPD to Relaunch Anti-Gun Crime Unit Disbanded After 2020 Riots

The mayor of New York City is planning to launch a reinvented version of the NYPD's plainclothes anti-gun crime unit, which was disbanded during the riots and protest sparked by the in-custody death of George Floyd in 2020.

“I want to be clear: This is not just a plan for the future – it is a plan for right now,” Mayor Eric Adams said. “Gun violence is a public health crisis. There is no time to wait.”

The new units, named the Neighborhood Safety Teams, are expected to be active in the 30 precincts that account for the majority of violent incidents in the city, the National Review reports. The mayor said police are recruiting for the roles currently.

The new Neighborhood Safety teams will have between 400 and 500 cops assigned to the unit, according to the NYPD.

“Numbers are being worked out now,” spokesman Sgt. Edward Riley told the New York Post . “Some precincts may have one team, some may have two or three.”

There were roughly 600 officers assigned to the anti-crime unit when it was disbanded by former Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. However, those squads were part of a citywide initiative, as opposed to the new units, which are limited to 30 patrol areas.