Mayor Lauds Incredible Shrinking Police Force

The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James THE FEW, THE PROUD: Members of the graduating class of 256 rookie Police Officers, the smallest contingent in recent memory, turn loose the confetti at the end of the ceremonies as they begin their careers as the newest of The Finest.

Probationary Police Officers July 2 strode in formation into graduation as Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" blared over the PA. They filled their rows as usual with military precision in dress blues and white gloves, but aside from the formalities, this class was different from most others because of its size: 256 officers, far below the norm of more than a thousand in a nod to the city's budget problems.

"Well, we were just happy to have a class," Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said after the ceremony, which was held at the WaMu Theatre this year instead of the adjoining Madison Square Garden. "We would like it to be bigger. We can never have enough police officers, in my mind."

Dwindling Ranks Holding Up

The new cops will join Operation Impact, which has seen its ranks shrink as budgetary problems have reduced the number of officers by 5,000 since 2001. The program, which has about 1,900 officers patrolling high-crime areas, now must keep these new cops in Impact for a year and a half to keep its headcount high, Mr. Kelly said. He added that the department is "closely monitoring" a personnel drain in the precincts, which he said has been minimized by a low attrition rate.

Both Mayor Bloomberg and Mr. Kelly touted the citywide reduction in crime to the new cops and their families despite the personnel shortages. After mentioning the NYPD's role in movies and television, the Mayor said, "The chapter I think the NYPD is writing right now, well, maybe it's most amazing. Today crime is down 36 percent from where it stood in 2001. It's down in our schools; it's down in our subways; it's down in our public housing and in every borough and every major category."

Mr. Bloomberg acknowledged the size of the class, which he threatened to scrap entirely last year before a deal was reached with the City Council to preserve it, albeit smaller. "Your class may be small but you are also mighty," he said. "Each of you took a different path but you are all bonded by a common purpose: to serve other New Yorkers."

Mr. Kelly mentioned Probationary Police Officer Alexander T. Bobo, Jr. as an example of someone who truly sought to be a cop to give back to the city. When Mr. Bobo was an infant, NYPD officers saved him by reviving his lifeless body. He joined the Police Academy after spending time as an EMT because he had his heart set on being a cop. "He hopes one day to answer a call when he might be able to return the favor," said Mr. Kelly.

Third-Generation Officer

The Mayor's Award for the highest overall average went to Probationary Police Officer Kevin M. Butt, who also won the First Deputy Commissioner's Award for highest academic average. The recent SUNY Cortland graduate is following in the footsteps of his father and great-grandfather who were cops. "It's Cloud Nine," he said after the ceremony. "It's a great feeling."

He said he wanted to be a cop since he was a little kid and saw his father, a Detective in the Major Case Squad, come home at night with a shiny badge. "I always felt like doing the right thing," he said.

Mr. Butt said that too much had been made of the size of his graduating class. "Numbers aren't everything, if you have the right group of guys doing the right thing," he said.

Others Honored

The Police Commissioner's Award for the second highest overall average was given to Probationary Police Officer Erick C. Erdaide. The Chief of Department's Award for physical fitness competition winners was awarded to Probationary Police Officers Edward J. Stine and Rachel J. Cresswell. The Deputy Commissioner, Training's Award for highest firearms proficiency average was given to Probationary Police Officer Jason Cheng.

The Commanding Officer, Police Academy Award for exceptional police duty was presented to Probationary Police Officer Jason N. Guzman. The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association Award for Outstanding Company Sergeant went to Probationary Police Officer Anthony J. DiGerolamo. The New York City Police Foundation Award was given to Probationary Police Officer Lauren M. Herbert.