Overview

• Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioner Jessica Tisch swore in 1,093 recruits at the Police Academy in College Point, Queens, marking the biggest class since 2016.
• Department leaders say this year’s hiring pace could surpass the 1984 single‑year record of 3,902 officers, following a recent graduation of roughly 965 and another class expected later this year.
• Interest has surged since eligibility was expanded, with daily applications more than tripling and over 5,000 people registering for the most recent entrance exam in two weeks.
• Recruitment changes include lowering the college‑credit requirement from 60 to 24, reinstating a 1.5‑mile run standard, and increasing academy training’s college‑credit value to 45.
• Union leaders welcome the influx yet warn that heavy attrition—reported at more than 300 departures per month and a headcount about 2,000 below budget—could offset gains before the new class graduates.