The latest NYPD academy class consisted of 576 new city and MTA cops, with some second-generation officers among them. A ceremony at Madison Square Garden saw 430 new male officers and 146 women being sworn in. 63% of the graduates are from the five boroughs, and 54 have served in the military, contributing 34 different languages to the beat. Additionally, 33 MTA officers graduated, with at least three receiving their badges from their cop fathers.
Among the second-generation officers are John Bennett, the son of active MTA officer Darren Bennett, who was assigned badge number 2551 – one more than his father’s badge number of 2550. John Edward Decker received his badge from his retired father, Richard Decker, a former Westchester County Sergeant, while Ryan Szaniszlo received his badge from his retired NYPD father, Joseph Szaniszlo. MTA Police Chief of Operations, Thomas Taffe, expressed excitement in welcoming the new officers to the force and stressed the importance of upholding the values of professionalism and integrity within the MTA Police Department.
New officers undergo a rigorous six-month training regimen at the academy before hitting the streets. Mayor Eric Adams has expressed plans to increase the ranks of the NYPD to 35,000, following a period of diminishing numbers during the pandemic. The NYPD saw a significant increase in officers quitting before their scheduled retirement dates, with 648 officers leaving the force by June 30 of the previous year. As of last month, the NYPD had 33,695 sworn officers, with the police union emphasizing the need for better recruitment and retention efforts to address the staffing shortages within the department.
The NYPD PBA union president, Patrick Hendry, praised the new class of police graduates for providing much-needed reinforcements to the overworked officers on the streets. However, he highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the department, with hundreds of officers leaving every month and the force still understaffed by thousands. Hendry stressed the importance of focusing on recruiting and retaining talented police officers to meet the growing demands within the city. The union’s call for City Hall to prioritize efforts in recruiting and retaining officers reflects the need to address staffing shortages and ensure public safety in New York City.
