July 7, 2015
By Stephanie West
New York, NY — Police Commissioner William J. Bratton presided over a graduation ceremony on July 2 for 822 new NYPD police officers at Madison Square Garden, in Manhattan. This is the first graduating class to complete training at Police Academy in College Point, Queens. The recruits will be paired with experienced officers and will be assigned to Precincts, Police Service Areas, and Transit Districts in all five boroughs.
“We congratulate these recruits who graduated from the academy and joined the ranks of the best police force in the world. We thank you for your dedication to public service and commitment to serving the city of New York with professionalism, respect and integrity. Every day New Yorkers wake up in the safest big city in America thanks to the strongest, most committed law enforcement agency in the nation,” said Mayor de Blasio. “This month’s historically low crime stats and declining CCRB complaints is a strong indicator that our police force continues to move in the right direction, and I know this new class shares this administration’s commitment to bring police and community closer together while keeping our city safe.”
Training included intensive community relations and diversity issues. The new police officers will also receive guidance from Community Partners on topics relevant to the neighborhoods the new officers are being tasked with keeping safe. Recruits attended leadership training workshops in decision making, as well as training in courtroom testimony.
“I want you to understand the importance of what you do; the seriousness of what you do. We're going to give you the tools and the leadership you need. Together, we will make this a safer, fairer city, everywhere for everyone — for the citizens and for you, too," said NYPD Commissioner Bratton.
The class is made up of 822 NYPD officers, 11 Metropolitan Transportation Authority officers and one Amtrak officer. There are 694 male recruits and 128 female recruits: 443 White, 82 Black, 208 Hispanic, and 85 Asian.
