Council pushes for more cops

THE CITY COUNCIL will step up its push to get Mayor de Blasio to hire more cops, again making the proposal a centerpiece of its formal budget response.

The thousand new officers — which would cost $68.7 million next year and $95 million in 2017 — will be part of the Council budget set to be released Tuesday, officials said.

“In order for NYPD to continue to keep New Yorkers safe while also implementing new reforms and initiatives we need to increase the overall head count of the department,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “The Council’s plan to increase head count while also including cost-control measures is fiscally responsible and will go a long way towards ensuring public safety and better community relations.”

The plan would increase the current head count of 35,437 by hiring two additional classes of officers.

The Council called for a larger NYPD last year, but ultimately struck a budget deal that did not include new hires.

This year, the pressure has intensified. De Blasio did not include more cops in his preliminary budget plan, but Police Commissioner Bill Bratton has said he wants and expects to get more.

The Council’s budget will call for the NYPD to cut its overtime spending by $50 million to help pay for the new cops. Total overtime costs are projected to reach $672 million this fiscal year, Council officials said.