By Scott R. Axelrod
Staten Island Advance, N.Y.
NEW YORK — The New York City Police Department hired 4,056 officers this year, marking the largest number of recruits brought on in a single year in recorded history, Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced.
The department swore in 1,143 new recruits Wednesday, bringing the total NYPD headcount to more than 34,700 officers. That figure represents the highest staffing level since May 2022 and moves the department closer to its goal of reaching 35,000 officers by next fall.
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The new class reflects the diversity of New York City. Nearly a quarter of the recruits were born outside the United States, representing 46 different countries. They speak 34 different languages.
“This milestone does not happen by accident; it’s the direct result of a historic number of people answering the call to serve our city,” Tisch said.
“From the day I took this job, I made it clear that our goal was to rebuild our headcount to ensure our department has the people, presence, and professionalism to meet its obligations — and today we are delivering on that promise,” the commissioner added.
The hiring surge follows changes made in February to address recruitment challenges. The department reduced its college credit requirement for Police Academy entry from 60 credits to 24 credits. The NYPD had been one of the few remaining big-city police forces in the country with a college credit requirement.
The change produced immediate results. Daily applications increased by almost 332%, jumping from an average of 53.5 per day to 231.5 per day. During the most recent exam period, that average reached 363 daily applications, a 579% increase. More than 5,000 people registered to take the latest police exam in just 14 days.
The department also adjusted how it evaluates academy training. The National College Credit Recommendation Service now recognizes completion of the six-month NYPD Police Academy program as equivalent to 45 college credits, up from the previous 36 credits. Academy graduates now enter the force with a minimum of 69 college credits.
The NYPD hired four separate classes into the Police Academy this year, three of which had more than 1,000 recruits. The department had a net gain of more than 800 officers, with hiring outpacing the approximately 3,228 officers who left the department.
Mayor Eric Adams said the increased staffing supports the city’s crime reduction efforts. “These brave men and women have helped to drive shootings to record lows, with the first 11 months of 2025 seeing the fewest number of shooting incidents and shooting victims in recorded history,” Adams said.
The city has recorded eight straight quarters of major crime decline. Transit crime has fallen to 14% below pre-pandemic levels. From July through November, the subway system experienced the safest five-month stretch in recorded history, excluding the pandemic years.
The city plans to add 5,000 additional officers over the next three years.
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