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1,000 officers in diverse NYPD graduating class

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Thursday, July 3rd 2008, 8:50 AM

NEW YORK - The New York Police Department has 1,000 diverse new officers.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and police Commissioner Ray Kelly presided Wednesday over a graduation ceremony for 1,013 officers at Madison Square Garden.

The graduates recently completed six months of Police Academy training. They'll be paired with experienced supervisors and deployed to high-crime areas.

This police graduating class is among the academy's most diverse ever.

About 30 percent of the graduates are Hispanic, 14 percent are black, 5 percent are Asian and 49 percent are white. About 17 percent are female.
Kelly says it takes courage and character to be a police officer.

Bloomberg says the new officers have joined the world's greatest police force.

The NYPD has about 36,000 members.

Copyright 2008 New York Daily News

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The graduation ceremony for 1,013 NYPD officers took place at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday,
July 2nd.


P.P.O. Darion Brooks with his wife, P.P.O Brittney Reeves, and their baby Evin Brooks, celebrating their graduation with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly.


P.P.O. Darion Brooks and wife P.P.O. Brittney Reeves began their recruit training days after their baby was born.


More than 1000 recruits took part in the New York Police Academy Graduation Ceremony at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.


NYPD Police Officer for 17 years, mother Renee Turner, celebrates her daughter, Danaya Dungee, entering the force.


This police graduating class is among the academy's most diverse ever.


Bloomberg says the new officers have joined the world's greatest police force.