Legal Research

Police Recruiters Nationwide Descend On New York City

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: Crime and Justice News, April 17, 2008.

"Dozens of out-of-town police departments will try today to lure recruits at a job fair at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice by promising far higher starting salaries than the New York Police Department offers, says the New York Daily News. In Washington, D.C., the starting salary for a police officer is $48,715 a year; in Dallas, it is $41,690 - with a $10,000 signing bonus; in San Jose, it's $70,037, far more than double what NYPD rookies earn. '[New York recruits] really can't understand that a salary could really be that high considering what they're used to,' said Officer Llorente Lacap, recruiter for the San Jose Police Department."

"New York recruits get a $25,100 salary while they are in the academy. Their pay jumps to $32,800 after graduation and reaches $59,588 after seven years. In seven years, police officers in San Jose can top out at $107,853. 'The NYPD used to be the premier department for those following their passion into law enforcement,' said Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch. 'Unfortunately, today, uncompetitive top pay has made it the department of last resort, so we can no longer compete to get the best and the brightest.' " 

New York Daily News

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on April 17, 2008 (boomark / email).