NYPD Cadet Class of 112 Funded by Feds is Sworn

NYPD Cadet Class of 112 Funded by Feds is Sworn

To Help Counter-Terrorist Push

By TOMMY HALLISSEY

TAKING THE PLEDGE: A new class of 112 Cadets takes the oath of office at Police Headquarters before beginning six months of training that will prepare them to serve in Operation Impact and free seasoned officers to assist in NYPD counter-terrorism activities. The Chief-Leader/Michel Friang Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly Jan. 11 swore in the smallest NYPD cadet class in recent memory: 112 police officers funded through a Federal grant after the economy initially caused the NYPD to cancel this class.

The funding for the new hires is provided by the Federal Transit Security Grant Program, which is part of Congress’s economic stimulus package passed last year. Chief NYPD spokesman Paul J. Browne said that the Department of Homeland Security provided funding for the class to support mass-transit counter-terrorism efforts in the city. “These officers will be enrolled first in the Police Academy, and after six months posted to various assignments, most likely on Impact posts,” he said.

July Class Undecided

The size of the next class in July is unknown, according to Mr. Browne, although Police Commissioner has previously stated that both 2010 classes were canceled. The last two classes were 250 cadets, down from a traditional norm of more than 1,000 recruits.

The new Police Academy class is 63-percent minority, and consists of recruits who were born in 15 countries. Nineteen of the recruits prepared for their careers by serving in the military. The class includes 65 recruits who began their careers with the Police Cadet Corps and 81 who have college degrees.

“There is no more-important responsibility in our democracy than keeping our citizens safe,” said Mr. Bloomberg. “Your decision to join New York’s Finest speaks volumes about the extraordinary individuals you are. Welcome to an organization that has continued to drive down crime and welcome to a job where every day is a new adventure, and every tour is an opportunity to make this city a better place.”

The new class is 77 percent male and 35 percent Hispanic, 16 percent black, 12 percent Asian and 38 percent white.

The average age of the recruits is 25. Seventy-nine percent reside in the city.

“No matter where you’re from, whether this is your second career or your first job out of college, you have unique skills and valuable life experience to contribute to our three-fold mission of combating terrorism, fighting crime, and building cooperative community relations,” said Mr. Kelly.