PBA statement on restoration of police academy class

At a City Hall press conference today, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city plans to hire police officers for the April 2024 NYPD Police Academy class, which was one of five classes the city had canceled due to budget cuts.

PBA President Patrick Hendry said:

“We’re happy to hear that the city is funding another Police Academy class, but the NYPD can’t hire its way out of its staffing crisis. We are still at least 2,700 cops below the pre-‘Defund the Police’ headcount. Nearly 3,000 more cops quit or retired last year. Those who remain are stretched beyond their breaking point. 911 response times are still rising, and the City Council keeps piling on new burdens. To keep our public safety gains from slipping away, the city must focus on retaining the cops it already has by improving their quality of life and providing incentives to keep them on the job.”