Battalions
A frequent, recurring observation across the discussion threads is that Staten Island needs another battalion. While many determining factors have changed over the years in Staten Island and city-wide, the number of battalions remains unchanged. In fact, the number of battalions overall has changed minimally over the years.
Battalions have been added only twice during the history of the department. Initially, battalions were added as the city and the department was growing and building out. The total number of original, legacy, land battalions topped out at 47 in 1930. (The battalions were numbered from 1 to 54 with numbers 24 to 30 having been retired in the 1906 renumbering.)
The total number of battalions (47) remained unchanged through 1969. (Even the number of battalions per borough was essentially unchanged. The only exception was the move of Battalion 3 from Manhattan to The Bronx in 1956.)
The only other period when battalions were added began in the mid 1960’s. The activity levels of the War Years resulted in the formation of seven battalion second sections and four new battalions. In 1969, the seven second section battalions were made original sections for a total of 58 land battalions. (Battalions were numbered from 1 to 60 with numbers 24 to 30 still remaining unused.)
Reflecting the higher activity areas of the city, battalions were added in Manhattan + 1, The Bronx + 4, Brooklyn + 5, Queens + 1, and Staten Island unchanged.
By the late 1980s, six of the 1969 new battalions (25, 29, 55, 56, 59, 60) and three of the legacy (5, 34, 36) battalions were disbanded. Five of the 1969 battalions remained (26, 27, 28, 57, 58).
Compared to 1957, battalion changes were: Manhattan -1, Bronx +2, Brooklyn +1, Queens unchanged, and Staten Island unchanged. Citywide total change +2.
In 91 years, from 1930 to the present, only two land battalions have been permanently added in total.
The number of battalions in Staten Island and Queens has been unchanged. The one additional 1969 battalion in Queens was rescinded. Given the similarity of the battalion organization and the history of both boroughs, the need for an additional battalion in one borough would likely also be reevaluated in the other borough.