To All Delegates and Members

July 17, 2001

On July 3, the New York Post ran the following editorial in reaction to my criticism of the current state of the recruitment screening process:

WATERING DOWN THE NYPD

It's been a tough few years for the NYPD in its search for new members of the force. The department — quite understandably, in the wake of the Abner Louima and Amadou Diallo incidents — particularly wants to overcome lingering mistrust in some communities by increasing the number of minority cops.

But in its bid to fill the available slots at the Police Academy, the NYPD may have cut a few too many corners. That's what the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the police union, says.

The PBA, to be sure, has its own selfish interests at heart: It argues that the department can't attract qualified people without a hefty pay raise.

And the NYPD itself has narrow interests involved, beyond ensuring that enough cops are on the street: The department's ability to qualify for federal subsidies is based on the size of the incoming class of rookies.

But the PBA's accusations can't be easily dismissed. The union charges that the department pressed immigration officials to expedite the citizenship applications of dozens of candidates, conducted only cursory reviews of many (some lasting less than a day) and pushed through candidates with prior records of arrests — and even criminal convictions!

The NYPD insists that the seven months of Police Academy training provides ample opportunity to root out any unqualified rookies who slip through the initial screening process.

That's not reassuring.

The NYPD has performed yeoman's work in bringing down crime in recent years — in no small measure because of the high quality of its officers.  Current recruitment woes are traceable to a number of things: Low salaries is one; Bronx DA Robert Johnson's enthusiasm for indicting cops is another.

But reducing entrance standards is no answer. This is one case where quality counts — not quantity.

I immediately wrote a letter in response, which was published on Saturday, July 7. Here is the text of that letter:

We welcome your support of many of the PBA's positions on the NYPD's recruitment process, including the salary issue ("Watering Down the NYPD," July 3). We beg to differ on one point, however. It's a mistake to connect the crisis with the department's effort to increase the number of minority cops. It's easy to attract quality police officers of all ethnic backgrounds. Just pay them what they're worth.    

I will continue to be very vocal in expressing my opinion on the issues that are so important to our members' safety and standard of living.