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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 181-03
July 1, 2003

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND POLICE COMMISSIONER RAYMOND W. KELLY SWEAR IN 1350 NYPD RECRUITS

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today swore in 1,350 new recruits to the New York City Police Department.  Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly presided over the ceremony at the Colden Center for Performing Arts at Queens College.  Earlier today, the Mayor described his Administration’s criminal justice strategy at a breakfast hosted by the Citizen’s Crime Commission.

“Today, these men and women will start a new life in the greatest law enforcement organization in the world,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “The new recruits will be faced with some of the most important challenges of their lives – ensuring the public’s safety, continuing our historic drop in crime and providing the first line of defense against terrorism.  I’d like to thank the members of the new class for dedicating their lives to keeping New York the safest and most secure large city in the United States.”

“This class of recruits represents the next generation of excellence in the New York City Police Department,” said Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.  “For the next six months these men and women will be trained and tested in all facets of police work to prepare them for their future in the Department.  They enter the Academy at an historic time for the City as we continue to suppress conventional crime and counter the threat of terrorism.  There are few careers as demanding, and rewarding, as that of a New York City Police Officer.  We expect great things from this class, and we wish them well in their training.”

The new class of recruits will spend the next six months at the Police Academy in Manhattan preparing for the challenges of serving as police officers in New York City.  The recruits will receive both classroom instruction and hands-on experience, including field, firearm, and counter-terrorism training.  Following the six months at the Academy, the Department will assign the graduates to precinct commands throughout the City.  Each of these recruits has completed at least 60 college credits. 

The new recruits will have the responsibility of continuing the historic drop in crime and keeping New York City the safest large city in the country.  According to recently released FBI statistics, the City experienced a 4.5% drop in overall crime in 2002; the national average was a drop of only 0.2%.

Out of the 225 cities, which are ranked, New York City now ranks 203, between Garden Grove, California, and Henderson, Nevada—a drop of seven from last year.  Out of the nation's 10 largest cities, New York City ranked 10th with the fewest overall crimes on the total crime index.  Out of the nation’s 25 largest cities, it ranked 24th, just behind San Jose, California.





CONTACT:

Edward Skyler / Robert Lawson   (212) 788-2958

Michael O’Looney   (NYPD)
(646) 610-6700


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