Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly welcomed the newest class of police recruits today -- the most diverse class yet to take the oath at 1 Police Plaza.
The class, made up of 274 new officers, is 58 percent minority. From Bangladesh to Ukraine, this class is representative of the diverse New York City community it serves to protect. Twenty-two different countries are represented in this crew, many of whom have already stellar backgrounds. Among this class' recruits, 112 started their track with the Police Cadet corps and 145 hold college degrees. Six have Master Degrees and one holds a Juris Doctor.
“Today you join the finest police force in the world and begin a career that will directly help improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers,” Commissioner Kelly said.
Kelly had promised to boost diversity among the NYPD's ranks after a white officer fatally shot an off-duty black officer in Harlem in May. He wrote to the governor saying the number of high-ranking minority officers would be increased.
In addition, the NYPD intends to promote more senior officers into elite counter-terrorism units.
The new class takes its post on the streets as crime rates in the city show an 11.8 percent decrease compared to last year, the NYPD said.
Mayor Bloomberg said he is proud to add the new pack to the team. “Welcome to the most talented and dedicated force in the country," he told the recruits.
