New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has announced a restructuring initiative that will split the Bronx into two new patrol commands, Bronx North and Bronx South, to address the persistent crime rates in the borough.

During her annual State of the NYPD address on Feb. 10, Tisch said this restructuring is designed to ensure that the Bronx receives more resources and support to keep up with the demands of its residents, including neighborhoods that typically experience higher amounts of violent incidents. 

She highlighted that while citywide murder and shooting rates reached a record low in January, certain neighborhoods in the Bronx continue to face high levels of violent crimes.

Under the new plan, 200 additional officers will be deployed across the borough through their new “precision policing” strategy. 

Along with these officers, new specialized units dedicated to homicide investigations, narcotics, neighborhood safety and auto crime will also be added.

Past data has shown that the Bronx has experienced a disproportionate share of citywide shootings, accounting for more than one-third of shooting accidents and victims across the city.

The NYPD has also found that residents made around for service last year, which is more than any of the other boroughs.

“For too long, the Bronx has experienced more crime per capita than any other borough while operating under a structure that hasn’t kept pace with the demands placed on it,” Tisch said in her address.

The NYPD’s patrol structure currently includes eight borough commands across NYC, with Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens each divided into two sectors.

This change will mark the first time the Bronx, which has always operated under a single patrol command, will be structured similarly to the other boroughs.

Many Bronx residents have expressed the need for safer streets and more effective policing to address the increase in crimes.

Residents have said a stronger police presence could also reduce the fear of crime in neighborhoods where residents feel the most vulnerable.

“Living here my whole life. Sometimes safe, sometimes not really because I’ve had bad experiences here,” Anayeli Ostorva, a mother living in the South Bronx, told CBS. “It will be nice for more police to be around, especially at night.”

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson has said that she would like to see the number of officers present double once the changes are in place, highlighting the importance of ensuring that residents feel safer as the plan is implemented.

“Residents say they do want to see the police presence, they don’t want to be victims of a crime,” Gibson said.

These changes will start being implemented this spring, although it is still unclear how the Bronx’s precincts will be divided.