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Police Dept. inducts 1,028 recruits in boro

By Ivan Pereira

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly welcomed the spring semester's police academy class at a special swearing-in ceremony at the Colden Auditorium. The commissioner congratulated the class of 1,028 cadets for joining the force and helping out residents all over the city.”We are counting on you to fulfill your duty to the best of your abilities,” Kelly told the cadets that “it's a big challenge, but it is one that you are up to. Otherwise you wouldn't be here.”The cadets, 55 percent of whom are New York City residents, will spend the next six months at the police academy studying and practicing various crime- fighting methods and procedures. From learning how to arrest a suspect to dealing with a potential terrorist attack, Kelly said these officers will be ready for anything.Rigorous police tactics are not the only skills taught to the group. This will be the third class that will take part in the academy's advancing community trust program that teaches future officers how to appreciate and interact with the neighborhoods that they will patrol.”It is important that the New York Police Department understands the community it serves,” Kelly said.The semester's cadets reflect the city's diversity with more than 170 of the cadets born in other countries, including the Dominican Republic, China, Russia and Ireland. The average age of the recruits is 26, while 227 of them hold bachelor's degrees, five have master's degrees and one was a former Westchester County assistant district attorney, according to Kelly.The commissioner did acknowledge that the cadets' starting salary, which suffered a significant decrease last year due to a complicated arbitration agreement, was a burden for the officers, but he reassured the officers that their hard work would be remunerated. Arbitration for a new contract for rookie officers was ongoing and Kelly said the issue would be resolved soon.”No one becomes a police officer to become rich, but there are other rewards in this sector. I am optimistic that in the short term the issue will be addressed and you will be compensated for the hard work,” he said.Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.