Fuhgeddaboudit! New York City Natives A Majority of New TLC Police Class

Uniformed Service Bureau Adds Cadets, Inspectors Who Largely Hail from Big Apple and Speak Multiple Languages

Media Assets: Official photos will be available here.

NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) today held a graduation ceremony for its latest Police Cadet classes and newest Inspectors – a group of diverse individuals made up of native New Yorkers who speak a multitude of languages that will help them to communicate with TLC licensees as they implement the agency’s critical safety mission.

TLC’s Enforcement Unit is a specialized division of TLC’s Uniformed Services Bureau (USB), which is dedicated to deterring illegal vehicle operations and enforcing TLC, City, and State rules. All TLC Cadets completed a rigorous, 22-week training program that included tactical, fitness, and customer service training, with a mission focused on public safety.

"These cadets reflect the very best of New York City,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “Today, we celebrate not just a graduation, but a commitment to public service powered by New Yorkers who came here in search of fairness, opportunity, and a real chance to build a life. For so many drivers, getting behind the wheel is their first foothold in the American Dream. The way you show up in this role will matter deeply in their lives. I know this class is ready to carry out TLC’s mission with professionalism, care, and respect — protecting the public while honoring the dignity, humanity, and essential work of the people you serve."

“More than 90 percent of our drivers are immigrants. Most came here simply seeking to live in a society that treats people equally, values fairness and the rule of law, and offers opportunity,” TLC Commissioner David Do told the graduates during the commencement ceremony at One Police Plaza. “Driving for-hire vehicles is often their very first toehold on the American Dream. Your knowledge of the system and your helpfulness, your judgement and experience, can change their lives for the better.”

Our newest TLC Police classes, by the numbers:

• 27 of 35 are originally from the five boroughs.
• 24 speak another language, including Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, French, Fuzhounese, Hindi, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, Yoruba, and Urdu.
• 11 have prior law enforcement experience.
• 9 have previous experience as TLC licensees.

These cadets bring a knowledge of New York City, TLC rules, and languages that will be a boon for two major areas of emphasis for TLC Police: Vision Zero and illegal for-hire activity. They are now experts at safely performing car stops involving hostile drivers or bad actors, know how to de-escalate conflicts, understand defensive tactics, and have studied the intricacies of TLC rules and City and State laws.

"You are a talented group of officers who are accomplished, multilingual, and diverse, and will carry out the mission of keeping the New Yorkers safe as a team,” said TLC Deputy Commissioner of Uniformed Services Bureau Ira Goldapper. “You understand this city, can work effectively with our licensees, and have industry knowledge that will be invaluable in deterring illegal and unlicensed operators. Keeping bad actors off the road protects the wallets of hardworking, rule-abiding licensees and passengers.”

The cadet classes, both trained in 2025, were the first to complete their entire training at TLC’s College Point facility. Specifically, Basic Peace Officer (BPO) training – previously conducted in partnership with CUNY – is now completed in-house at College Point, which has also recently become certified as a National Safety Council Training Center. Two more cadet classes are slated for 2026 as the TLC Uniformed Service Bureau continues to recruit and bolster its ranks. TLC Police – known as “The Proudest” – are also regularly assigned to Vision Zero enforcement in all boroughs and attend the NYPD Traffic Safety Forum to understand the issues specific precincts are experiencing and then participate in joint operations with individual precincts.

In addition to the Enforcement cadets, 21 new Safety and Emissions (S&E) Inspectors brought on in 2025 were honored at today’s ceremony. Working out of the TLC Woodside inspection facility, the Inspectors uphold the quality of TLC-licensed vehicles and ensure that the fleet is equipped to be on the road safely by conducting state-required tests, as well as checking for TLC-required equipment and markings – such as taximeters in cabs and base markings on livery vehicles. These 21 inspectors underwent a thorough multi-week training at the TLC Woodside inspection facility that focused on these tests, as well as providing excellent customer service. S&E conducts approximately 100,000 inspections a year, and only vehicles that successfully pass TLC inspection are authorized to transport passengers for hire.

“You are responsible for making sure that the vehicles conducting almost a million trips a day are safe, comfortable, and convenient,” said Rubin Varghese, Assistant Commissioner of Safety & Emissions. “Safety starts at Woodside.”

S&E also ensures compliance with applicable TLC rules by visiting taxi garages, for-hire vehicle bases, taximeter shops, and driver education schools. The newest Inspectors all have previous experience as mechanics or with technical schools, and like the cadets, speak an array of languages, such as Albanian, Algerian, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, French, Mandarin, Soninke, and Spanish. Over 85 percent are also native New Yorkers.

About the NYC TLC

Created in 1971, NYC TLC is the agency responsible for licensing and regulating New York City's medallion (yellow) taxi cabs, for-hire vehicles (community-based liveries, black cars, and luxury limousines), commuter vans, and paratransit vehicles, along with the businesses that operate them. It is recognized as the largest and most active taxi and for-hire vehicle regulatory body in the United States.

Almost 180,000 TLC licensees complete approximately 1,000,000 trips each day. To operate for hire, drivers must first undergo a background check, have a safe driving record, and complete 24 hours of driver training. TLC-licensed vehicles are inspected for safety and emissions at TLC's Woodside Inspection Facility.

To find out more about the TLC, or to review its rules, regulations, and procedures, we encourage you to visit our official website at www.nyc.gov/taxi or contact 311/311 Online.

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