It's The Size That Counts
After six months at the police academy, [1,097 NYPD recruits] graduated during a ceremony at Madison Square Garden yesterdaythats 1,703 less than this years [goal of 2,800 cadet](http://www.amny.com/news/local/crime/am-copclass0628,0,4519805.story?coll=am-topheadlines) graduates. But [Cheryl Walter](http://www.nysun.com/article/57456) isnt down. A graduate of Harvard University with a masters degree in forensic psychology, Walters couldnt be happier with her choice to live on 25G a year, raving that the NYPD is bigger than any of the other agencies, but conceding that things are a little tight.
Police Commissioner [Ray Kelly], along with the rest of the city, blames the low turnout on that low starting salary, which increases every year to just under $60,000 following the completion of five and a half years of service. Common sense, in this most expensive city in the world, people are willing to sacrifice to become police officers. We understand that nobody becomes a police officer to become rich, but you have to live, said Kelly. Still, according to the NYPD recruitment website, promotional exams administered regularly provide opportunities for advancement to [higher paying positions](http://www.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=4367601) like detective and sergeant (average earning $100,000) and Lieutenant (average earning $122,000).
A primary problem resulting from the dwindling force could be the [termination of Operation Impact], an initiative credited with the citys dropping crime rate, achieved by sending rookie cops to crime-ridden neighborhoods. A three-year study by policing experts Dennis Smith and Robert Purtell found that the program increased falling crime rates by 57 percent in precincts where it was implemented, particularly grand larceny and rape.
Meanwhile, the number of [civilian complaints] against police officers jumped 13 percent last year, the sixth straight year of increase, according to an annual report by the Civilian Complaint Review Board. To be specific, nearly 7,700 complaints were filed in 2006, many of them objections to the NYPDs stop-and-frisk habits. Board members partially [attribute the rise to 311](http://www.amny.com/news/local/crime/ny-nyccrb0628,0,3564294.story?coll=am-topheadlines), which allows New Yorkers to gripe more easily. The good news is that NYPD says the number of verified allegations are actually down, with fewer than 600 complaints, the lowest number in 10 years, confirmed. Thats what she said.