NEW YORK (WABC) — Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch used her State of the NYPD address Tuesday to announce a wide-ranging set of updates aimed at boosting public safety, modernizing operations and giving officers more support in the field.
“Together, we have cleared away the rubble of crisis and we say with renewed certainty that the State of the NYPD is strong,” Tisch said. She added that in 2026 “the standards we hold ourselves to remain the same, and the commitment to support the noble men and women of the NYPD remains absolute.”
The address comes after what officials say was the safest year ever for gun violence in 2025, along with major citywide crime declines.
Divides the Bronx Into Two Patrol Boroughs
One of the biggest moves is happening in the Bronx. For the first time, the borough will be split into Bronx North and Bronx South, a structural change the NYPD says will help bring more oversight, more resources and nearly 200 additional officers to the borough.
The Bronx saw more than one third of the city’s shooting incidents last year and logged crime numbers rivaling Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. Officials say splitting command will help better manage that workload and tailor resources to different neighborhoods.
Overhaul of In Service Training
Tisch announced what she called the most significant revamp of officer training “in decades.” Officers will now cycle through a recurring, weeklong inservice program covering tactics, deescalation, constitutional policing, legal standards and situational awareness.
The NYPD says the move is meant to keep officers better prepared for realworld situations and evolving community expectations.
Modernizing the NYPD’s 311 System
The department is rolling out a new digital dispatch system for 311 calls assigned to its QTeams. The upgrade will let officers track, respond to and close out quality of life jobs with more structure and accountability, similar to how 911 calls are handled.
“We are doing this because we ask officers to make hard decisions in moments unfold quickly, and that carry real concern,” Tisch said.
Digitizing NYPD Precinct Command Logs
Since 1845, precincts have relied on handwritten command logbooks to track everything from staffing to inspections. That is finally changing. The NYPD will move to a digital log system that gives leadership a real-time view of precinct operations.
Introducing DAS 2.0 for Real-Time Policing
The NYPD’s Domain Awareness System is getting a major upgrade. DAS 2.0 brings real-time alerts directly to officers in the field. An officer driving on the FDR could get pinged that a stolen car just passed a license plate reader ahead. A supervisor at a scene could see live drone video and understand exactly where the drone is relative to the incident.
Preparing for Drone Mitigation Authority
The NYPD can detect drones but does not yet have federal approval to take them down. The department expects that authority to come from the White House this year and is investing in equipment and training so officers are ready the moment that approval is granted. Tisch noted this will be key ahead of major events like the World Cup, the nation’s 250th birthday celebration and the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
“Right now, we have the capability to detect drones, but we lack the authority to take them down ourselves. We expect to receive that authority from the white House this year, which we have long advocated for,” Tisch said.
Appointing Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Rev. A. R. Bernard as NYPD CoChief Chaplain
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Cardinal Dolan and Rev. Bernard will serve as co-chief chaplains, overseeing the NYPD’s Chaplains Unit and providing spiritual and moral support to members and their families. Dolan has led the Archdiocese of New York for nearly two decades, and Bernard leads one of the city’s largest congregations.
They will be installed at a ceremony on Feb. 24, 2026.
Naming the Police Academy in Honor of Detective Steven D. McDonald
The NYPD is renaming the Police Academy after Detective Steven D. McDonald, who was shot and paralyzed in the line of duty in 1986 and became a symbol of courage and forgiveness. The official naming ceremony will take place July 16, 2026, exactly 42 years after he entered the academy.
(Information provided by the NYPD)
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