NEW YORK — The number of candidates seeking to join the NYPD has plummeted by 55% over the past eight years, dropping from 18,000 in 2017 to just 8,000 in 2024, according to data from the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) reported by the New York Post.
Some prospective recruits are opting for police departments outside New York City, even for lower starting salaries, according to the report. A retired NYPD officer told the Post his son chose to join the Suffolk County Police Department, citing less stressful working conditions. Suffolk County officers begin at $43,000 annually but can earn $158,828 after 11.5 years. NYPD officers start at $58,580 but face mandatory holiday shifts and greater physical risks.
Mayor Eric Adams has pledged to recruit 1,600 new officers in 2025, but the department faces significant hurdles, according to the report. With the general rule that only one in eight candidates meets all requirements, the current pool of 8,000 applicants falls far short of the nearly 13,000 needed to fill academy slots. To address this, the department has begun an initiative to contact candidates who passed the entrance exam up to seven years ago.
The NYPD’s overall headcount is now at its lowest in over three decades, further compounding recruitment issues. Experts and police sources point to policies that have eroded morale, such as the chokehold ban and the “How Many Stops Act,” which requires extensive documentation for police interactions, according to the report.
State bail reform laws, which allow repeat offenders to return to the streets quickly, also frustrate officers, according to police sources.
Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor at John Jay College, said enthusiasm for police careers has waned significantly among his students.
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“A lot of my students don’t want to be cops anymore,” Giacalone said. “The whole class used to want to be cops.”
PBA President Patrick Hendry has called on the city to increase compensation and reduce the burdens on officers to attract top recruits.
“ Right now, potential recruits know that a career in the NYPD means enduring more work, more risk, more pressure and more scrutiny, in exchange for fewer benefits and lower pay than almost any other policing job,” he said. “Our city needs to balance the scales.”
