A short and socially distanced welcome was held Monday at the NYPD's Police Academy for the newest members of the force.

"You have come from across the city, and you have literally come from across the globe, and you have each taken a different path to get here, but today you join our family,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea as he addressed recruits.

What You Need To Know

  • Nine hundred new NYPD recruits take an oath to join the department

  • An academy class was cancelled in March because of the pandemic and the July class was called off after the mayor and City Council cut the NYPD budget

  • The new class brings the department's head count to just over 35,000, down about 1,800 from this time a year ago

Nine hundred recruits, all wearing masks and spaced several feet apart, took the oath Monday to join the NYPD, bringing the department's head count to just over 35,000 — down about 1,800 from this time a year ago because of early retirements and budget cuts.

The March class was cancelled because of the pandemic, and the July class was called off after the mayor and City Council cut the NYPD budget in the wake of the protests over the police killing of George Floyd. 

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea told recruits they are joining the force at a very difficult time.

"A time of uncertainty, a time when it seems the eyes of the world are on us. There is a national conversation going on right now about what policing should look like. I would say to you, don't be defensive about it, embrace it. You are now a part of that history and that is a good thing,” explained Shea. 

Sixty-one percent of the new class lives in one of the five boroughs. 

Nearly a quarter of the recruits are women. 

About 40% of the recruits are white, 34% Hispanic, 14% Asian or other nationalities., and more than 13% Black.

One hundred and seventy seven were born outside of the United states.

It will be six months before the recruits begin regular patrols, but they will spend some time at precincts around the city training.