NYPD Recruits Graduate from Police Academy

July 2, 2015

NEW YORK--Police Commissioner William J. Bratton presided over a graduation ceremony on July 2 for 822 new NYPD police officers at Madison Square Garden, in Manhattan. This class is the first graduating class of the new state-of-the-art Police Academy in College Point, Queens. The recruits completed six months of intensive training at the 32-acre learning facility that consists of lecture halls, tactical training rooms, mock street scenes and environments. They will be paired with experienced officers who will serve as Field Training Officers and will be assigned to Precincts, Police Service Areas, and Transit Districts in all five boroughs. The first major citywide deployment for this class will be during the July 4th weekend celebration.

“Today we congratulate these recruits who graduated from the academy and joined the ranks of the best police force in the world. We thank you for your dedication to public service and commitment to serving the city of New York with professionalism, respect and integrity. Every day New Yorkers wake up in the safest big city in America thanks to the strongest, most committed law enforcement agency in the nation,” said Mayor de Blasio. “This month’s historically low crime stats and declining CCRB complaints is a strong indicator that our police force continues to move in the right direction, and I know this new class shares this administration’s commitment to bring police and community closer together while keeping our city safe.”

“I want you to understand the importance of what you do; the seriousness of what you do. We're going to give you the tools and the leadership you need. Why? Because we're cops – as you are now – and we understand the nobility of this profession. You're coming into this profession at a time when we need your commitment and your passion. Together, we will make this a safer, fairer city, everywhere for everyone--for the citizens and for you, too," said NYPD Commissioner Bratton. 

This graduating class has received enriched diversity training designed to enhance the relationship between the Department and the communities they will serve. They will be instructed and guided by Field Training Officers, seasoned police officers who will help them during their first months on patrol. In addition to the FTOs, the new police officers will also receive guidance from Community Partners, leaders in the areas the officers will be working, who will share their insight on important topics relevant to the neighborhoods the new officers are being tasked with keeping safe. Recruits attended Leadership training workshops in decision making, as well as training in courtroom testimony. In addition, the recruits received training on the Citywide Incident Management System (CIMS), which defines how citywide emergencies or multiple large-scale incidents are managed, as well as instruction in the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Award Winners

• Mayor’s Award: Valedictorian, Probationary Police Officer Danielle M. Cox received the Highest Overall Average.
• Police Commissioner’s Award: Salutatorian, Probationary Police Officer Sandra Sobolewska received the Second Highest Overall Average.
• First Deputy Commissioner’s Award: Probationary Police Officer Douglas H. Schneider received the Highest Academic Average.
• Chief of Department’s Award: Probationary Police Officers Meghan E. Murphy (highest female physical fitness score) and Andre E. Donaldson (highest male physical fitness score) received this award for Physical Fitness Competition.
• Deputy Commissioner of Training Award: Probationary Police Officer Shaun O. Frazier received the Highest Firearms Proficiency Average.
• Commanding Officer, Police Academy Award: Probationary Police Officer Alesksander Nikolli received this award for Exceptional Police Duty.
• Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association Award: Probationary Police Officer Donovan J. Bunch received this award for Outstanding Company Sergeant.
• New York City Police Foundation Award: Probationary Police Officer Beatriz H. Ceballos received this award for Exceptional Community Service.

Graduating Class Countries of Origin

The class is made up of 822 NYPD officers, 11 Metropolitan Transportation Authority officers and one Amtrak officer. There are 694 male recruits and 128 female recruits.

(443) White (53.89%)
(82) Black (9.98%)
(208) Hispanic (25.30%)
(85) Asian (10.34%)
(4) Other (0.49%)