The NYPD is touting a record year for hiring new officers, with more than 4,000 fresh recruits sworn in Wednesday \u2014 even as police union leaders argue a mass exodus of cops is still plaguing the department.<\/p>\n
The number of New York City cops in uniform now stands at nearly 35,000, the highest level since May 2022, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said as the new batch of recruits were sworn in. <\/p>\n
\u201cToday marks a defining moment in your lives and a historic moment for the NYPD,\u201d Tisch told the new officers.<\/p>\n
A class of1,100 new police cadets were sworn in, Wednesday. NYPD<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the 1,142 of your entering the police academy today, the NYPD has now hired more than 4,000 officers this year, making this the largest hiring year on record,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat matters because there are people who would have you believe that policing is a profession in retreat,\u201d Tisch continued. \u201cLet me be clear, that narrative is wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 4,056 cops hired this year topped the previous record of 3,902 set in 1984, police data shows.<\/p>\n
By comparison, just 2,632 cops were hired last year, and 1,978 in 2019, the stats show.<\/p>\n
But cops are still leaving the force in droves, the Police Benevolent Association, the city\u2019s largest union repping NYPD cops, noted.<\/p>\n
The recruits represent 46 countries and speak 34 languages.<\/p>\n
More than 3,400 of New York\u2019s Finest have quit or retired over the last 12 months, partially offsetting the historic gains, according to the PBA.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a time when recruits entered the academy planning to wear our uniform for their entire career,\u201d PBA President Patrick Hendry said in a statement. <\/p>\n
\u201cToday, too many of our recruits are viewing the NYPD as a stepping stone to a better law enforcement job, one with a more manageable work load.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The NYPD has been hemorrhaging cops in recent years, losing more than 15,000 rank and file officers since 2020. Just 8,000 prospective recruits applied to join the force in 2025, compared to 18,000 in 2017, officials said.<\/p>\n
Prior to the new recruits being sworn in, the PBA said the ranks saw a deficit of about 500 cops over the past 12 months due to retirements and resignations.<\/p>\n
NYPD PBA President Patrick Hendry says too many cops are still leaving the force through retirement and resignation. William Farrington<\/p>\n
Hendry said an average of 285 cops have quit the force every month since December 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to getting recruits in the door, our city leaders need to work with us to keep them on the job,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
NYPD brass has pushed to fill the department\u2019s dwindling ranks all year, staring in February when Tisch lowered the college credit requirements<\/a> even as she reinstated a mandatory 1.5 mile run for recruits.<\/p>\n NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressing a police academy class, touting a record number of new hires. James Messerschmidt<\/p>\n