Logo

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch raged Wednesday against an “unsustainable” revolving door of recidivism driving Big Apple crime — singling out a violent maniac with 70 past busts who allegedly tried to rape a woman on a train.

The city’s top cop gave a sweeping address on public safety and the challenges facing the NYPD during the Association for a Better New York’s “Power Breakfast” in Midtown, teasing a return to quality-of-life-focused “broken windows” policing and a plan to beef up the department’s rapidly depleting force.


  NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch raged against an “unsustainable” revolving door of recidivism. Stephen Yang NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch raged against an “unsustainable” revolving door of recidivism. Stephen Yang

But Tisch didn’t stop with plans – she also ripped New York City district attorneys and 2020’s controversial state bail reforms that she said put violent offenders back on the streets “over and over again.”

NYPD cops last year made the most felony arrests in 26 years, only to see suspects spat back out by the criminal justice system, she said.

“Before they can even finish that paperwork, their perp is back out on the street, immediately returned to the neighborhood and the people that they just victimized,” she told the crowd gathered at the Association for a Better New York’s “Power Breakfast” in Midtown.

“It’s demoralizing, it’s unsustainable, and it defies common sense.”

The clear-eyed view by Tisch – a widely respected public servant who even Mayor Eric Adams’ rivals want working for them – is likely to carry weight as she looks to transform the NYPD and as lawmakers eye tweaks or wholesale changes to criminal justice statutes.

Tisch laid some blame for recidivism on unintended consequences from the reforms, but she didn’t let the city’s district attorneys off the hook, subtly digging at unspecified soft-on-crime policies by their offices.

Without naming prosecutors, she lamented that homeless career criminal Tyriek Martin, 34, was repeatedly dumped back on the street — even after more than 70 arrests, including for allegedly bashing a 2-year-old girl with a suitcase in Manhattan, and being deemed too crazy to stand trial.

Martin last week allegedly bashed a woman’s head against a pole in a train rolling into the Times Square subway station and tried to rape her. He was indicted Wednesday on a rape charge.


  Tyriek Martin was arrested in 2021 for allegedly bashing a 2-year-old girl in the head with a suitcase. Obtained by NYPost Tyriek Martin was arrested in 2021 for allegedly bashing a 2-year-old girl in the head with a suitcase. Obtained by NYPost

Tisch noted that prosecutors — largely in lefty Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, according to officials and sources — declined to press past cases against Martin.

“What are you doing here? How is not prosecuting a violent repeat offender in the interest of justice?” Tisch said.

A source close to the commissioner told The Post that the remark was meant to dig at prosecutors’ decisions that kept Martin on the street.


  Tisch said that prosecutors declined to press past cases against Martin, according to officials. ZUMAPRESS.com Tisch said that prosecutors declined to press past cases against Martin, according to officials. ZUMAPRESS.com

Tisch did credit all five of New York City top prosecutors, including Bragg, for pushing to change the state’s discovery, or evidence, law — arguing that recent reforms have led to a shocking rise in accused criminals getting turned loose on technicalities.

She argued that the city doesn’t have a crime problem so much as a surge in recidivism.

Last year saw an “unacceptable rise” in the number of people arrested three or more times for the same crime, she said.

“The increase was 61% for burglary, 64% for shoplifting, 71% for grand larceny, 83% for robbery, and 119% for auto thefts,” she said.


  Martin is accused of trying to rape a woman on the subway last week.
 Martin is accused of trying to rape a woman on the subway last week.

Enforcing other crimes or infractions could help get repeat criminals off the streets, Tisch said. 

She said the NYPD has increased enforcement on “prohibitions against taking up multiple seats, laying outstretched smoking, drinking alcohol” on subway trains.

“Since this refocused enforcement began, about 32% of the encounters have resulted in an arrest, mostly because of open, active warrants – meaning that these people who were violating transit rules were being sought for other crimes they’d committed in the past,” she said.

“Of those people arrested, 31% were convicted felons. And all combined, they had nearly 3,600 priors – which is an average of 20 prior arrests per person.”

Tisch said criminals need to face consequences.


  The city doesn’t have so much a crime problem so much as a surge in recidivism, Tisch said. Christopher Sadowski The city doesn’t have so much a crime problem so much as a surge in recidivism, Tisch said. Christopher Sadowski

“I am channeling the voice of virtually every NYPD cop and everyday New Yorkers when I say: Enough is enough. Criminals in New York City — including violent, repeat offenders — continue to be given every courtesy. And the people of this city suffer as a result.”

The plea from Tisch drew a muted response from prosecutors, and echoes of support from lawmakers.

A spokesperson for Bragg said the office is determined to address the cycle of recidivism and will work with the NYPD on that shared goal.

“Under D.A. Bragg, shootings in Manhattan are down 45% and felony indictments, targeted enforcement and gun prosecutions are up,” the spokesperson said in a statement.


  The plea from Tisch drew a muted response from prosecutors, and echoes of support from lawmakers. Christopher Sadowski The plea from Tisch drew a muted response from prosecutors, and echoes of support from lawmakers. Christopher Sadowski

A representative with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office declined to comment, while officials with the prosecutors’ offices in the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island didn’t return requests for comment.

State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn), who chairs the codes committee that reviews criminal justice legislation and is also running for mayor, acknowledged more work needs to be done.

“We clearly have work to do to bring crime back down to pre-pandemic levels in the city, and part of that involves changes to our discovery laws,” he said. “That’s one reason I began the year by introducing legislation, supported by our DAs, that gives them speedier and more direct access to case material.”


  State Sen. Myrie said that there is work to be done to bring crime in the city back down to pre-pandemic levels. ZUMAPRESS.com State Sen. Myrie said that there is work to be done to bring crime in the city back down to pre-pandemic levels. ZUMAPRESS.com

Assemblyman Mike Reilly (R-Staten Island), a retired NYPD Lieutenant, told The Post that Democrats need to fix a mess they caused.

“Albany Republicans have been lock-step with law enforcement officials across the state, calling on Governor Hochul and Democrats in the legislature to repeal their disastrous criminal justice reforms for the past six years,” he said. 


  Tisch said that there was a sharp rise in individuals arrested three or more times for the same crime. Christopher Sadowski Tisch said that there was a sharp rise in individuals arrested three or more times for the same crime. Christopher Sadowski

“New Yorkers had enough. Action on this is long overdue. If Democrats don’t act, they will pay the price come Election Day 2026.”

— Additional reporting by Craig McCarthy, Reuven Fenton and Priscilla DeGregory

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy