Recent decline in arrests by New York Police Department points to slowdown amid labor strife

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, right, listens as New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton addresses a news conference at New York City Police headquarters, Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. De Blasio says it was "disrespectful" that some NYPD officers turned their backs to him during a pair of funerals for slain police officers. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (The Associated Press)

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, left, whales hands with New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton as he introduces him at a news conference at New York City Police headquarters, Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. De Blasio says it was "disrespectful" that some NYPD officers turned their backs to him during a pair of funerals for slain police officers. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (The Associated Press)

NEW YORK – New York Police Department statistics show a steep decline in the number of arrests across all five boroughs in the two weeks since two officers were shot dead in their patrol car.

The totals suggest that a rumored work slowdown has taken hold.

Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch insisted Tuesday that the union was not sanctioning a labor action. He says officers are putting themselves in danger, as usual, to keep the city safe.

But statistics show that last week the number of summonses for minor criminal offenses, traffic and parking violations decreased by more than 90 percent compared with the same week a year earlier.