Orange County Blocks NYPD Officer Transfers
Orange County officials have announced that they’re not considering accepting transfers from the NYPD, despite the latter being one of the most trained police forces in the country.
A recent memo from the county stated that the New York City Police Department has changed its minimum qualifications, leading to complications for officers wanting to move. It mentioned that NYS civil servants confirmed the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and local police departments can no longer accept transfers from the NYPD.
This change stems from new admission standards introduced by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in February, aimed at addressing recruitment challenges within the department. The minimum university credit requirement for joining the Police Academy has been cut from 60 to just 24 credits.
However, under state civil service law, officers can’t transition to another law enforcement position if their current role demands qualifications that exceed the new requirements. This means, not just in Orange County, but in other departments with stricter standards, NYPD officers are facing limitations on transferring.
Mike Bozak commented on this change, saying it highlights the decline in NYPD standards, which used to set benchmarks for law enforcement. “The department is embarrassing,” he stated.
According to state law, NYPD officers aiming for different opportunities must start fresh at a new police academy, which complicates the usual movement of urban police officers seeking new positions in suburban areas.
This traditional transfer process permitted smaller departments to benefit from experienced city officers who were already trained. However, with the new requirements in place, that’s no longer feasible.
Langdon Chapman mentioned that NYPD officers looking to work in Orange County will need to take a civil service exam to qualify for the county’s police recruitment list. Currently, applicants must be under 35 to take the exam, but that age limit is expected to rise to 42 later this year.
There’s uncertainty regarding the training requirements for new employees from the NYPD, but Chapman emphasized that some training would be necessary before they could wear their new uniforms.
Orange County officials are urged to engage state legislators to refine the law, advocating for NYPD officers hired under previous standards to be allowed to transfer to their departments.
Chapman expressed enthusiasm for accommodating NYPD officers looking to serve in the county, highlighting that the community respects law enforcement and believes Orange County is a great place to work.
However, disqualification rates are concerning—the division has had to turn away 29% of applicants, which amounted to 2,275 candidates just this year.
The new regulations also grant recruits additional credits towards completing the six-month academy training, as recently assessed by the College Credit Advisory Services. Tisch reinstated previous requirements that had been altered under former deputy training director Juanita Holmes.
The NYPD has chosen not to provide comments regarding these developments.
