NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Police Department hired 4,056 new police officers this year, the largest number of recruits brought on in a single year since recordkeeping began more than four decades ago, officials announced Wednesday.
Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said the department’s hiring surge reflects a renewed interest in law enforcement and a focused effort to rebuild staffing levels. The latest swearing-in ceremony added 1,143 recruits, pushing the NYPD’s total headcount to over 34,700 — the highest since May 2022.
“Once again, the NYPD made history today — hiring the largest number of officers in a single year since recordkeeping began,” Tisch said. “This milestone does not happen by accident. It’s the direct result of a historic number of people answering the call to serve our city.”
Mayor Eric Adams praised the record recruitment numbers as a key component of his administration’s public safety strategy. He noted that the city recorded the fewest shooting incidents and victims in its history during the first 11 months of 2025. “We are well on the way to surpassing our goal of 35,000 officers by next fall,” Adams said, adding that plans are underway to hire an additional 5,000 officers over the next three years.
The NYPD credited its hiring rebound in part to recent changes in eligibility rules that reduced the college credit requirement from 60 to 24 credits. A reassessment also increased the number of college credits awarded for completing the Police Academy from 36 to 45. Following the change, the department saw daily applications increase more than 300%, with over 5,000 people registering for the most recent police exam in just two weeks.
Officials said the NYPD’s hiring outpaced attrition by more than 800 officers this year, helping to offset retirements and departures while maintaining record-low crime trends.