The New York Police Department (NYPD) is facing a severe hiring crisis and has decided to lower its college credit requirements in an effort to boost recruitment. On Wednesday, Commissioner Jessica S Tisch announced that the department would reduce the number of college credits required for applicants to become cadets—from 60 to 24—as reported by The New York Times.
The move comes as the NYPD struggles with a shrinking police force. According to Newsweek, the department currently has approximately 33,475 officers, a significant drop from around 37,000 seven years ago. Adding to the challenge, the department is bracing for mass departures this year, with nearly 3,700 officers set to reach their 20-year anniversaries, making them eligible for full pensions.
High attrition has been a persistent issue for the NYPD since 2020, with many officers leaving before retirement age for jobs that offer higher salaries and lower stress. The staffing shortage has forced extensive overtime shifts, leaving many officers burned out. To counter this, the department is not only lowering educational requirements but also implementing incentives to attract new recruits while reducing the number of disqualified applicants.
Additionally, the NYPD is reintroducing a physical fitness test for candidates. Aspiring officers will now have to complete a 1.4-mile run within 14 minutes and 21 seconds, The New York Times reports.
Despite lowering the entry requirements, Commissioner Tisch emphasized that the NYPD remains the only major police force in the U.S. that mandates college credits for new recruits. The revised policy will not affect the credit requirements for promotions—officers will still need a specific number of credits to advance to sergeant or lieutenant, while promotion to captain will continue to require a bachelor’s degree, as reported by The New York Times.
By making these changes, the NYPD hopes to rebuild its workforce and address the ongoing staffing crisis.