Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today swore in a new class of 1,148 New York Police Department (NYPD) recruits. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Brooklyn College.

"Today, you join the ranks of New York's Finest," said Mayor Bloomberg. "The men and women of the NYPD are dedicated to protecting New Yorkers from not only the dangers on our streets, but also from those threats arising halfway around the globe. You are joining a police department that has distinguished itself as being the national leader in reducing crime. Today you've answered the call to service and I'm confident that you will continue make New York City America's safest big city."

"With this class, we have continued to recruit highly qualified men and women dedicated to public service," said Commissioner Kelly. "In addition to traditional crime fighting, they will be responsible for protecting the city from terrorism."

This class of recruits is the first class to be sworn in this year. The Police Department hires two classes each year to help keep the headcount and patrol strength level throughout the year. This has been standard practice for the NYPD since 2004. The recruits will spend nearly seven months training at the Police Academy. Upon graduation, new officers will be assigned to various commands throughout the City, including the Patrol Services Bureau, Housing Bureau, and Transit Division.

The new recruits, over the course of their Police Academy training and their first six months on the force, will receive an average total cash compensation of $35,000, plus an additional $1,000 uniform allowance. By their sixth year on the force, the average total cash compensation will rise to $72,000, plus an additional $1,000 uniform allowance.

The following is a breakdown of gender and ethnicity of the 1,148 recruits being sworn in: