The first new batch of NYPD cops since police brass lowered the admission standards earlier this year was sworn in on Thursday — with Mayor Eric Adams setting a target of 35,000 cops in uniform next year.
More than 670 probationary cops took the oath in the latest class, with city officials banking the reduced requirements will help replenish the dwindling ranks of New York’s Finest in recent years.
“This class was formed under our newest recruitment strategy, partnering with our fraternal organizations to expand outreach and the results speak for themselves,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
“You represent 39 foreign countries and speak 26 different languages. Over 60% of you live right here in this city. You now serve,” she said. “You reflect the rich diversity of New York, and you will bring that strength into every neighborhood of every borough.”
The department currently has about 33,500 officers on the job.
The new recruits are part of about 8,000 NYPD candidates expected to apply this year, a far cry from the 18,000 who signed up in 2017 — a 55% drop in the annual number of New Yorkers looking to serve.
Typically one in eight candidates make it to the swearing in ceremony.
In an effort to boost the ranks, Tisch announced changes to the hiring requirements in February.
“We need more cops, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” she said while making the announcement.
The changes reduced the minimum number of college credits required to enter the police academy to 24 instead of the current 60. Police the NYPD is one of the last major police forces in the country to have college credit requirements, which disqualified 29% of applicants in 2023.
The new rules also give police recruits more credits for completing the six-month academy training regimen based on a recent assessment by the National College Credit Recommendations Service that determined that completing the rigorous training is equivalent to 45 credits, up from the current 36.
Tisch also reinstated the longstanding timed-run requirement axed in 2023 by controversial then-Chief of Training Juanita Holmes. It requires recruits to run the 1.5-mile course in under 14 minutes, 21 seconds.
The 673 new cops sworn in Thursday join about 200 probationary cops sworn in between July and January and 600 who took the oath earlier this year, with 600 more expected to graduate next month.
Adams, a retired NYPD captain, welcomed the new class Thursday — and cautioned them.
“This city is great because of public safety, public safety is a prerequisite to prosperity,” the mayor said. “But don’t kid yourself, this is a hard job and it’s not made for everyone. This is the moment when you must be more disciplined than ever. Everyone has a camera. Everyone wants to criticize you.
“But the overwhelming number of New Yorkers love to see you every day,” he added.
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