Res. No. 172 Title Resolution calling on the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to restructure the 60 credit educational requirement for appointment to the Department for New York City residents by allowing New York City resident appointments to obtain the 60 credits by their fifth year on the force and by providing tuition assistance to meet those requirements as well as requirements for promotion. Body By Council Members Dilan, Monserrate, Foster, Nelson, Reyna, Rivera, Seabrook, Stewart, Vallone and Vann; also Council Members DeBlasio and Jackson Whereas, The NYPD currently requires entering officers to have completed 60 credits of college education or two years of military service before appointment to the force; and Whereas, Although the 60 credit educational requirement strives to accomplish the commendable goal of making the NYPD more professional, it also effectively restricts the pool of quality recruits to the Department, many of who are New York City residents; and Whereas, To accommodate both the goal of making the NYPD more professional and to encourage potentially successful candidates who do not have two years military experience or 60 college credits to join the force, the NYPD should restructure the 60 credit requirement; and Whereas, The restructuring of the requirement to allow for the completion of 60 college credits within the first five years of appointment would encourage a number of New York City residents to apply for a position with the NYPD; and Whereas, This restructuring will allow a greater number of applicants to become members of the force as well as set the foundation for having more City residents among the supervisory ranks; and Whereas, These goals can be achieved by providing tuition assistance to officers based on academic performance, thus ensuring the educational excellence of its officers and the strengthening of their preparedness for supervisory positions; and Whereas, The recruitment of City residents would enhance the diversity of the NYPD, create the potential for better police-community relations and increase the stake that officers have in policing this City; and Whereas, These efforts are crucial in light of the recruitment difficulties faced by the NYPD; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Police Department to restructure the 60 credit educational requirement for appointment to the Department for New York City residents by allowing New York City resident appointments to obtain the 60 credits by their fifth year on the force and by providing tuition assistance to meet those requirements as well as requirements for promotion.