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March 20, 2008 |
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Kelly Says Low Starting Salary Is Still
Affecting NYPD Recruitment
 The
NYPD may soon shrink to its smallest size in 16 years as a result
of budget cuts and recruiting woes.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told the City Council's Public Safety
Committee yesterday that the plan to slash 1,000 officer positions
would not affect current operations, but would put pressure on
the department.
"It is a ludicrous position that we find ourselves in," said
Kelly.
However, Patrolmens Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch
says the cuts would strain the department to the breaking point.
The cuts would allow for a maximum of just over 36,000 officers
-- down from a high of 40,000 eight years ago.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the positions being cut are jobs that
haven't been filled because of a slowdown in recruitment. Kelly
argued that the $25,000 starting salary is the main reason for
the recruiting problems.
But he says a deal is in the works with the PBA that would raise
salaries for new officers.
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