Authorities disclosed on Thursday that numerous NYPD recruits, failing to meet the department’s standards, have been either asked to resign or are facing termination, particularly due to mental health concerns.
According to reports, 31 officers are involved, including Terel Anderson, an inspector hired between 2023 and 2024, who has since transitioned out of his role while receiving notice of disqualification.
“They were all notified,” a police insider mentioned. “They were told, ‘You are not qualified. You should not have been hired. You have 24 hours to either resign or be fired.’
A source noted, “Many of these issues are related to mental health, though there are other complications as well.”
In the past few days, officers have had their firearms removed.
Patrick Hendry, the president of the Police Charity Association, is pursuing a temporary restraining order against the removal of these officers.
“These recruits are not at fault for the NYPD’s flawed hiring system,” Hendry stated. “As far as they know, the department employed and trained them, making them eligible to serve as police officers in New York City.”
“It’s absolutely tragic that the department is attempting to cover its tracks by swiftly removing them without offering the same appeal process open to other applicants,” a union representative added.
“We are looking into all legal avenues to safeguard our members’ rights and to hold the NYPD accountable for this complete failure.”
Meanwhile, Anderson, who previously oversaw the NYPD’s “Candidate Evaluation Division,” was reassigned to the housing unit on May 12 after allowing over 70 candidates to continue in the academy despite not meeting psychological standards, as revealed by an internal affairs investigation.
Sources indicate that Anderson may also face departmental charges.
One troubled recruit, Emilio Andino, who has ties to former NYPD student Quathisha Epps, reportedly remained despite facing complications.
Andino, currently on probation, had been dismissed previously for involvement in a confrontation at the academy.
