By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced that the City Police Department uniform officer headcount is on the path to reach 35,000 by the fall of 2026.
Adams pointed to recently expanded eligibility requirements and continued funding commitments by the City as reasons for the projection. The Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget includes $3.4 billion for approximately 34,000 police officers, including four academy classes, and FY 2027 is funded to support a uniform force of 35,000.
In February, after Adams directed Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to develop a plan to recruit and retain more officers, Tisch announced a three-part plan to attract more candidates and modernize education requirements to address the hiring crisis the NYPD has faced in recent years. The NYPD was one of the only remaining big-city municipal police forces in the country with a college credit requirement. As a result of the changes announced in February, the department reduced barriers to employment by reforming the required college credit minimum to enter the Police Academy to 24 credits from 60 credits. The new plan also emphasizes physical fitness by reinstating the previous longstanding requirement of completing a timed 1.5-mile run. Additionally, a recent reassessment conducted by the National College Credit Recommendation Service determined that the completion of the six-month NYPD Police Academy recruit training program is equivalent to 45 college credits, an increase from the previous 36 credits. Graduates of the academy will now enter the NYPD with a minimum of 69 college credits.
Over 5,000 previously ineligible candidates on 29 active civil services lists were contacted, and over 4,000 within this candidate pool expressed interest in reopening their cases. Of that group, more than 1,300 have already reported to the NYPD’s Candidate Assessment Unit to take the next steps in their hiring process. Following this expanded eligibility, the NYPD has seen daily applications increase by almost 45 percent, from an average of 56 applications per day to 81 applications per day.
In the past month alone, over 1,172 individuals have already filed to take the next police exam, representing a renewed interest among New Yorkers to serve New York City and become a police officer. Since the announcement of the change of college credits in February 2025, over 9,700 new filers have applied to take the police officer exam.
“When we came into office over three years ago, we had a clear mission and a clear mandate: Drive down crime and make sure every New Yorker feels safe,” said Adams. “Our success depends on whether we have enough officers to do this critical work, which is why, in February, we announced expanded eligibility requirements to become an officer. The results have been astounding – with daily applications up 45 percent, it’s clear New Yorkers are eager to join the NYPD. Combined with continued funding, we’re proud to announce that New York City is on the path to having 35,000 uniform members of the NYPD by fall of 2026.”
