Lowest crime rate in decades

NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce is in charge of virtually all investigative units. “Without question, it is the most powerful chief of detectives position in the history of the department,” NYPD spokesman Stephen Davis said of Boyce’s new role. “The scope of his command is greater than it has ever been for a chief of detectives.” Boyce, 60, and a resident of Nassau County said under the old structure patrol borough commanders essentially controlled many investigative functions. Now, narcotics, gang and vice investigations are under the supervision of investigative commanders, he said. Chief Boyce has seen the most dramatic drop in crime take place the last few years. The number of murders in New York City this year is still on track to land below 300 — and there have also been drops in felony assaults, burglaries, robberies and car thefts, according to the NYPD. There have been 284 homicides in the five boroughs this year through Sunday , compared with 329 for the same period in 2016. That’s a 13.7 percent decrease, and a far cry from the early ’90s when the city suffered through more than 2,000 murders a year.